I. Personal Data Protection
Never send personal data by email
Whether users want to buy a car online or take out an insurance policy - no serious online supplier requests personal data by email. Also, under no circumstances should requests for personal data be answered for seemingly urgent reasons such as a supposed threat of data loss or for security checks. These requests are so-called phishing mails used by fraudsters to acquire confidential data material using online forms. When users are unsure about the authenticity of the sender it is always best to contact customer service directly.
Make sure the transfer of date through the online market place is secure
When placing an order or closing a contract it is often necessary to provide personal data such as the delivery address, for example, or credit card number for payment purposes. Users can tell the order process is encrypted by a reference to “SSL” or Secure Sockets Layer software. The data will be digitally sent by means of an encryption instruction and is therefore inaccessible to third parties. Users can check in the Provisions for Data Protection of the respective online marketplace portal in which manner personal data will be used. These statements are legally valid and reflect the seriousness of the online supplier.
Never register without a thorough inspection of the terms and conditions (T&Cs)
The T&Cs of internet portals provide important information about available offers as well as guarantees. Also, any potential costs as well as fees for registered members will be described in the T&Cs, most of which will not be listed separately elsewhere. In particular, cancellation periods and other relevant modalities are described in the T&Cs. It is therefore mandatory for internet users to check the terms and conditions before registration or completion of contract. To get a better overview it is recommendable to print the T&Cs.
An anti-virus program on the home PC is a must
Safety begins at home: A safe transfer of data requires that security measures are also applied to the home PC. Anti-virus programs not only prevent viruses from disabling the PC and internet connections; they also prevent fraudsters from accessing personal data saved on your local hard disc. The prerequisite here is that the anti-virus program is fully up-to-date; regular updates are essential.
Never use standardised passwords
Anyone who registers with an online portal to set up a customer account, for example, or to become a premium member should choose a password consisting of numbers and letters or special characters. Identification and password should be different as not only users have three attempts to access the account but fraudsters as well.
Confidential partner search – anonymity affords protection
Flirt, get to know new people, arrange dates – protecting your personal anonymity and ensuring that you and your personal data are protected is of particular importance when searching for partners online. A pseudonym is used for flirting on online dating websites; specific details about the place of residence should not be noted in the user profile. Also, information provided by the contact partner should be sufficiently checked before going to a first meeting (on neutral ground). Further tips on how users should go about searching for partners on the web are shown on http://www.sichere-partnersuche.de/
Curriculum Vitae online – Control your sensitive data
For many users job searching already takes place exclusively online. Many portals offer the option to create a curriculum vitae in addition to the “traditional” methods of job advertisements so that it is more attractive to employers. As a rule, the user will need to register so that his personal data is protected by login details. However, care must be taken here as many job agencies allow their paying business clients access to this data without granting the applicant a right of veto. New generations of applicant databases, such as the JobScout24 candidate pool, for example, incorporate an intermediate step: Applicant data remains viewable only in an anonymous form (i.e. without personal data or details of previous employers) until the user authorises access to his data on the grounds of a concrete request from a company. There is always the option to first create a brief profile in order to limit the disclosure of personal data to a minimum. Only in the event of real interest from a company's side, will user data be requested by way of secure email and will therefore remain inaccessible to unauthorised third parties in the web.