Identity fraud: keeping personal information secure

The recent fraudulent theft of personal information about 145,000 people from Choicepoint in the US highlighted the importance of organisations which collect personal information, having safeguards to keep it secure.

Whilst there is much that you can do individually to protect your own information, how can you be sure that someone you voluntarily give it to will protect it?

National Privacy Principle (NPP) 4.1 provides that an organisation must take reasonable steps to protect the personal information it holds from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

This Information Sheet gives useful tips for organisations complying with that obligation, including physical security, computer security, communications security and personnel security.

In Australia, Baycorp Advantage is the major credit information database.

Its website offers information about how to get a copy of your credit file, how to protect yourself against credit fraud and what to do if  someone is using your identity to get credit.