Washington County Weekend Post

GMTODAY.COM SUNDAY, AUGUST 9 2020 • WASHINGTON COUNTY POST • 3A Anyone who has had their home broken into or been the victim of identity theft understands just how unsettling it can be to have their privacy invaded. To think that a stranger has rooted through your stuff may be even more upsetting than losing the stolen items. Data from various sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, points to identity theft as one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States. Approximately 15 million U.S. residents have their identities used fraudulently each year, with financial losses totalling upwards of $50 billion. Perhaps thanks to the prevalence of web- based accounts and transac- tions, as well as reliance on digital services, identity fraud and other types of theft have increased in frequency. According to a 2013 report from Javelin Strategy & Research, an incident of identity fraud occurs every three seconds. Just about any individual or business is vulnerable to an identity/data attack. It's crucial that individuals and businesses take steps to protect themselves from identity theft and other forms of theft. Limit sharing on social media Many people have no qualms about posting per- sonal data via social networking sites, even though they aren't taking the precautions necessary to keep that information safe. Always keep your privacy settings at the highest level, and never share sensitive personal information such as your birth date, address or financial information. Invest in security software Invest in or upgrade your spyware and security appli- cations. In addition, install any security updates autho- rized by your operating system or the apps you use. Create strong passwords Skip those easy passwords that just about anyone who knows a little about you can guess. Instead, choose com- plex passwords that feature a combination of letters, num- bers and symbols. Many passwords are case sensitive, so use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters as well. Use only secured wi-fi networks Avoid sharing personal information when using unsecured networks, such as those available at restau- rants or coffee shops. It's easy for someone to hack into your accounts when they don't have to go through firewalls and other security features. Exercise caution with email Opening emails or clicking on attachments and links could initiate spyware, and doing so may even infect your computer with a virus. Also, don't be fooled by emails requesting personal information. Such messages are typically sent by fraudu- lent people masquerading as legitimate businesses, such as credit card companies looking to "verify" account information. Keep personal belongings out of sight Be mindful of personal items and information at all times. Shred mail that contains account numbers, and store checks and bank account paperwork and files where they can't be seen. Avoid logging on to personal accounts in public and when your sensitive information might be visible to others. Theft can be scary, and anytime personal belongings or information is stolen, it can make a person feel violated. Start taking steps to better safeguard your personal data. How to protect yourself from theft Many working parents struggle to maintain a healthy balance between their responsibilities at work and their obligations to their families. An inability to maintain that healthy balance can have adverse effects on men and women's careers as well as the relationships they have with their families. A 2015 survey of more than 2,000 adults commis- sioned by the workplace solution provider Workfront found that 38 percent of survey participants have missed life events because of a bad work-life balance. Access to technology that means work is never too far away might contribute to poor work-life balance, as 57 percent of respondents also acknowledged feeling that technology has ruined the definition of a family dinner. Finding a healthy bal- ance between work and life at home may require a con- certed effort on the part of working parents, but there are ways to successfully jug- gle a career and family. • Set reasonable goals. Much of the difficulty men and women experience in regard to finding a healthy work-life balance may be a byproduct of working par- ents spreading themselves too thin. Setting reasonable goals can help avoid that, but doing so requires taking commitments to one's em- ployer and family into con- sideration before agreeing to take on new projects or setting deadlines for projects to be completed. This should be applied to both work and home. If a work deadline is unreasonable, professionals should discuss that with their employers, who might change the deadline or arrange for extra persons to work on the project. At home, parents should avoid taking on too many projects, such as chaperoning a child's dance or coaching a sports team, if doing so will adversely affect the amount of time they get to spend with their families. • Look for ways to be more efficient. Interactions with coworkers can make work more enjoyable, but working parents should not spend too much time shoot- ing the breeze with their fellow employees. Doing so wastes time and only con- tributes to work-related stress. Commuters who don't drive themselves to work can be more efficient by using their commutes to read emails, arrange meetings or catch up on projects. Doing so allows for more time to get work done while in the office, which can make it easier to go home on time. • Request changes to work schedules. While technology may have largely eliminated the separation between the office and home, working parents can use that to their advantage by asking their employees to alter their work schedules. Telecom- muting one or two days a week can help parents feel more connected to their families, while flex sched- ules can ensure working parents don't miss any of their children's dance recitals or weekday after- noon ballgames. • Unplug when you get home. Perhaps the simplest and most effective way for parents to regain a healthy work-life balance is to unplug their devices. Em- ploying "Do not disturb" set- tings on smartphones and turning off tablets can ensure parents don't spend their time at home working but connecting with their families. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is no small task for today's working parents. But such a goal is possible. How working parents can create better work-life balance

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