Privacy matters. But in this digital age, personal information is being displayed online like never before, usually without the consent or knowledge of the person. Even if you've never written a blog, posted a comment in a Web forum, or participated in an online chat, odds are someone can learn something personal about you simply by going online. If you or your students are looking for more Web anonymity, here are some simple steps to follow.

1. Figure out how much anonymity you want. Some people like to maintain a highly visible presence on the Web while others don't want their names mentioned at all. While erasing all information about yourself on the Web is probably impossible, the degree that you want to keep your information "Net" free will determine the aggressiveness of your tactics. Do you mind having your address and phone number online? Does it bother you that people can find pictures of you and maybe your family online? Do you want people to know your political views, your religious thoughts, or any other opinions you have? Answering these questions should shape your Web behavior.

2. Use the Web accordingly. Signing up for online loyalty or coupon programs or online sweepstakes are good ways to have your information broadcast online according to a January 2007 Wall Street Journal article. Often those lists are sold to online and direct-to-consumer marketers. Once your information is out there, it will be impossible to rein it in according to experts.

   "It can be recontextualized and used for purposes not anticipated by the individual," according to the WSJ article. So if you or your students plan on being full participants in the Web by posting to blogs, discussion forums, and signing up for freebies with your email account, expect your information to be readily available to spammers and marketers. The rule of thumb is that if you don't want your information out there, don't give it out.

   Most students probably don't worry about their information being online, demonstrated by their constant online postings about their day-to-day lives on public Web sites like Twitter, Facebook, or MySpace. Trying to guard their own privacy may be the last thing on their minds. Still, helping them make the connection between direct-to-consumer marketing and their Web usage could prove valuable to students trying to avoid marketing directed specifically at them.

3. Become a moving target. "This is probably one of the most effective methods of warding off the spammers," according to an About.com article. Instead of using your own email address, sign up for a free email account with any free email carriers and simply use that address for signing up for Web freebies.

   Being a moving target doesn't apply to physically relocating though, which can actually increase a person's Web visibility. Moving around a lot does not erase your contact information. One popular Web site - ZabaSearch - reaches far into individuals' past to display dates of birth as well as past and current phone numbers and addresses to anyone that makes an inquiry. The more an individual moves, the more times they are listed on people search sites like Zaba.

4. Analyze your Web profile. While it may feel a little egotistical, experts advise conducting periodic Web searches on yourself. That means using Google, Yahoo!, and other popular sites to search for your name to see what information already exists. When you find your information on a site that you want removed, contact the source directly and ask them to remove it.

   Even if you don't give out information on the Web, many city and county Web sites publish public records on their Web sites about how much you paid for your home, birth records, marriage records and more. By law, some of this information must be made available to the public for free, but that doesn't mean that it should contain any personal information such as your social security number or date of birth. In these instances it's better to remain abreast of what information is being displayed publicly to ensure that it is appropriate and doesn't invade your privacy.

   Experts also suggest checking your credit report a couple of times a year via AnnualCreditReport.com to find out if anyone is already using your information.

5. Opt out. Attempting to opt out of Web services that broadcast your information can be tedious and difficult, but it can be worth it if you're trying to regain control over how your personal information is being broadcast on the Web. Some sites like Google and Yahoo! simply crawl the Web looking for references of your information, meaning you'll have to clean up information on the source Web sites. But others purposefully try to gather information on you to display to others.

   Unlike the national "do not call" list that consumers can use to stop receiving phone solicitations, there is no national "do not mail" or "e-mail" list individuals can use to avoid direct-to-consumer marketing. In order to opt out you should contact the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service, which maintains large lists of consumers that companies can tap to find potential customers. Consumers that wish to opt-out of those lists are required to pay a $1 opt-out charge, and then opt-out again every five years.

   The Wall Street Journal also provides several opt-out policies from popular online people-finder services.

   555-1212.com
   Policy: Will remove a person's residential listing from the site on request.
   To opt out: Fill out form at http://www.555-1212.com/support/contact.jsp?type=R11

   

   Intelius
   Policy: Will allow a person to "temporarily" opt out of the results of an Intelius search. The listing may return when Intelius refreshes its database with new records. For the full policy, go to find.intelius.com/privacy-faq.php#516
   To opt out: Fax or mail name and address as it appears on the Web site, along with proof of identity, to: Intelius Inc., 500 108th Ave. NE, 25th Floor, Bellevue, WA, 98004. Fax number: 425-974-6194.

   

   PublicRecordsNow
   Policy: On request, will block records from being shown in some, but not all, search results. See the full policy at http://www.privateeye.com/terms.asp19
   To opt out: Send a letter with first and last name, middle initial, aliases, current address, former addresses going back 20 years and date of birth to: Opt-Out, PublicRecordsNow/Privateeye.com, 15332, Antioch St, Suite 713, Los Angeles, CA, 90272. It also helps to include a printout of all the records to be withheld.

   

   ZabaSearch
   Policy: Zaba's privacy statement says it doesn't offer a way to opt out of the service.

   

   US SEARCH
   Policy: Offers limited ability to opt out of search reports. US Search says it will "use good faith efforts" to prevent distribution of information from nonpublic records, such as magazine subscriptions, but says it can't guarantee that information from public records, such as court filings, will be withheld.
   To opt out: Mail a signed request with full name, email address, mailing address, Social Security number, date of birth, past addresses and aliases to: US Search, Opt-Out Program, 600 Corporate Pointe, Suite 220, Culver City, CA 90230.

By Justin Draeger
NASFAA Assistant Director for Communications

Posted 08/23/07 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.