Basic Online Security for Special Agents

There will always be a need to balance convenience with security countermeasures. Here are a few practical tips that I recommend for all past, present and future law enforcement officers. Folks in this profession should take the protection of their personal data very seriously, as identity theft, defendants, private investigators, defense attorneys, and foreign intelligence services routinely seek this information to investigate law enforcement personnel. I personally employ every single one of the below countermeasures as I believe they are basic steps in furtherance of my personal security. Nothing listed below is *foolproof* but it does help you get one step ahead. Companies collect so much data that it has become almost impossible to hide from their collection efforts, however, you can confuse them by taking some calculated steps and cause misdirection for any bad actors seeking to locate your personal information.   

• It is highly recommended that everyone freeze their credit profiles. Credit card companies collect the most up-to-date address information and a freeze will help limit this exposure.  This credit freeze is now a FREE service that is provided by all three major credit bureaus. The additional benefit of a credit freeze is that your identity cannot be stolen and maliciously used to obtain credit cards (which is often the primary purpose of stealing identities). The major credit bureaus rarely share this tidbit and instead try to push various "credit monitoring" services, which offer some value, but are *after-the-fact* tools (not to mention costly over time). In my opinion, if you freeze your identity, you don't need to pay for credit monitoring as this freeze is a preventative measure. When you need to have a credit check run by a third party (i.e. auto-loan), you simply login and "unfreeze" your credit for the required number of days. I have used the credit freeze system for over 18+ years and it has been the most effective preventative tool in my arsenal.
• Experian Security Freeze Center Direct Link
• Equifax Security Freeze Center Direct Link
• Transunion Security Freeze Center Direct Link

• The data gathered by *private* companies is among your biggest security vulnerability. One of the most lucrative and commonly sold data points are your physical and mailing addresses. For that reason, I strongly advise you to use a virtual mailbox that receives your routine mail, opens it, and sends a PDF scan to your email address. You can then choose to either have it shredded or forwarded to your actual address. This is another way to help confuse the digital bots and avoid having junk mail sent to your home. 
•  I have personally been using Traveling Mailbox for over 5+ years. It is fairly affordable with three price points based on volume (lowest starts at $15 monthly). I chose a *Premium Address* near my actual physical address for a few bucks more a month. The provided address also looks like an apartment number so it is accepted by all companies. Virtually 90% of my mail is shredded and does not need to be forwarded. 
• I have NEVER given my personal address to any corporation and instead refer them to this Traveling Mailbox. My bank accounts, mortgage & car loans, credit cards and even utilities all list this mailing address. Over time, I noticed that this mailing address now shows up as my most current address on common Internet searches and even in Tier One commercial databases (i.e. Lexis/Nexis).
• Even my driver's license and car registrations are sent to this address.

• You should never give out your actual personal email account for purchases. Instead, I recommend you generate and use "Email Aliases" for various functions. For example, an email alias such as "bobsreceipts@live.com" could be used for all purchases, which is then automatically forwarded to your personal email account. Similarly, a separate alias should be used for utilities, job applications and medical records. You can have multiple email aliases for most accounts. 

• If at all possible, I would place all utilities (including cell phone) in your spouse's name, with no association to your own last name. Utilities (especially gas & electric) are usually an accurate source of location information. By using your spouse's name (especially a maiden name), it further puts "digital distance" between you and your physical address. 

Everybody has an Amazon account in the 21st Century, which is connected to your physical address. If possible, use a profile linked to your spouse OR if that is not an available option; always send packages to a "3rd Party Profile Address."  For example, you can create a profile address for "Bob Smith" at your actual physical address (i.e., 489 Dodge Way, New York, NY) and still have all your regular packages sent to your home. This way your true name is not regularly linked to your physical address. Remember, Amazon sells this address data, just like all the other companies!