1. Back it up.

I recently saw the following posted on a friend's Facebook wall: "Anyone who can consult a friend pls contact me: relative died; iPhone PIN locked." This illustrates quite simply how important it is to keep copies of your important data - from accounts to PINs, and yes, even your phone numbers that are stored on your smart phones. You may consider using a trusted third party for online storage, but I always advise to keep hard copies of information such as addresses and contact information in a secure location as well. Don't just depend on digital files - you never know when electricity will go out, batteries will fail or systems will crash. Take that one step further and print out your beloved photos as well. We are so dependent on everything digital these days. Rule of thumb: If it's important, print it, then protect it.

2. Don't talk to strangers.

Google privacy - or lack thereof - has been making news again. (Click here for that story.) The most recent concern points to the need for parents to speak often with kids about their online activities.  Even "trusted" sites, like Google, often ask for way too much information, and they lure kids and adults with promises of games, free toys and other goodies. It's worth repeating that no one should ever need to provide a Social Security Number, even partial, or other sensitive information without a particular legal need (especially at online "fun" sites!). Many game and social media websites ask for birth dates to make sure your child is old enough to use them. Because of the risks involved, consider telling your kids not to supply their actual birth dates, but to make one up for another date in their birth year instead - this is one place that it makes sense to fudge the truth.

3. Do not reply.

Sneaky organizations are calling landlines and leaving voicemails asking you to call back and give personal information to automated systems, or go to a website and enter personal information... all under the guise of assisting with an investigation. I received one of these early in March! Never supply personal information to anyone with whom you did not initiate the contact. These fraudsters are also using text messages for similar scams. Ignore the bogus inquiries, and contact your service provider, or even your state Attorney General's office, to alert them to suspicious calls and messages.