Spring Clean with Fellowes: Some Handy Tips To Prevent Identity Theft

Spring Cleaning Tips to Protect from Identity Theft

Thanks to the OnetoOne Network, I have some great hints and tips to share with you:
The Identity Theft Resource Center recommends their

Top 5 Tips for spring cleaning the home office: I know mine can always use some organizing. These tips should help with your homeschool too!

Begin with the Basics: Sort through the piles of paperwork on your desk and in your office drawers.  Place them into two categories: ‘save’ and ‘shred.’

Proper Storage: Organize the "save" pile into labeled folders (I personally suggest the Dymo Labelwriter Pro (see another of my earlier blog entries for more info on that.) 

Be sure to put anything confidential into a fire-proof lock box. My dad gave me one a few years ago and it gives me a nice sense of comfort knowing at least important documents will be safe :)

 The "shred" pile should be properly disposed of with a Cross-Cut shredder, such as a Fellowes P-12C. 

Cross-Cut technology is an important feature for a shredder because it provides high security, destroying confidential information into unidentifiable pieces.  Equally important are enhanced safety features, such as Fellowes' SafeSense technology, which shuts the machine down when hands come too close to the paper opening, which is so important if you have children. Doesn't that sound cool? Wish I had one. :)

The Fellowes P-12C paper shredder is a durable, innovativeand affordable machine. With Fellowes’ industry-leading technologies, the P-12C provides high-security and is safe for family environments. 

* To ensure high-security against identity thieves, the P-12C features Cross-Cut technology, which destroys a single sheet of paper into nearly 399 particles. 

* The P-12C also includes Fellowes’ patented SafeSense technology, which disables the shredder when it senses hands or large pets come too close to the paper opening.

* The P-12C can also shred staples, credit cards and paper clips to help speed up your spring cleaning process.

* Its slim profile design allows the P-12C to fit in any officeenvironment, including under desks or in kitchens and other rooms.

The P-12C has a suggested retail price of $89.99 and is available at Target Stores nationwide.http://www.target.com/Fellowes-P-12C-Cross-Cut-Shredder-SafeSense/dp/B003ID0EFC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&keywords=p-12c&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-4&qid=1297964460&rh=&searchRank=target104545&id=Fellowes%20P-12C%20Cross-Cut%20Shredder%20SafeSense&node=1038576|1287991011&searchSize=30&searchPage=1&searchNodeID=1038576|1287991011&searchBinNameList=subjectbin,price,target_com_primary_color-bin,target_com_size-bin,target_com_brand-bin&frombrowse=0

Hey! After you shred all that paper, you can maybe use it to make your own recycled paper in a blender (I'll find some how-to's and share in a later post) 

Get a Digital Makeover: Refresh your home office computer bydeleting files you no longer use and backing-up important data onto an external hard drive.  Clean out your inbox and change all passwords.  Refreshing your computer is a good practice to follow throughout the year as well.

 (I just personally had to do all of this, especially change my passwords etc., because Facebook notified me that someone on a mobile phone across the country from me (they even knew the location) had tried to access my account. Then I found out (after installing a couple free virus protection and malware identifying and removal softwares for free that my brilliant computer genius 14-year old found for me), that I had 48 files infected with Malware and Trojans (the worst ones.) Not to mention the many high and low risk viruses that the virus protection software had found earlier. Jeepers. So many days without my computer drove me nuts. :) Hopefully it's all better now though. ...I still have file cleaning up to do like they suggest here.

Make Life Easier: Plan ahead by purchasing organizational tools for your desk, such as computer risers or file folder holders.  This will help clear clutter from your desk top while keeping things within arms reach.

Freshen Up: Get rid of dust and germs that easily build up on office equipment such as keyboards, telephones and cabinets.  You'll feel instantly more productive with a clean workspace.