What to do about Compromised Data?

With all of the news and attention lately about Home Depot, Target and countless municipalities and cities data being breached it seems that it is difficult to wade through a day without being fearful of your personal identification being compromised.
There are additional things you can do:

• When you can, use cash
• On the internet use PayPal when possible
• Change your data sets, by that I mean when you can use another date of birth that you'll remember, begin to change your mother's maiden name to another that, again, you'll remember
• I have a friend who uses lines from Shakespeare for passwords

According to CreditCards.com there are 10 places that you should not use your debit card:

1. Online
2. For big-ticket items
3. When a deposit is required
4. At restaurants
5. If you are a new customer unfamiliar with the business — Online or in the real world, if you're a first-time customer in a store, skip the debit card the first couple of times you buy. That way, you get a feel for how the business is run, how you're treated and the quality of the merchandise before you hand over a card that links to your checking account.
   
6. When you buy now, take delivery later
7. For recurring payments
8. For future travel
9. At gas stations that you are not familiar with
10. When the "ATM" looks "off"— Criminals are getting better with skimmers and planting them in places you'd never suspect -- like ATM machines on actual bank property. So take a good look at the machine well the next time you use one or a self-check lane. Does the machine fit together well or does something look off, different or like it doesn't quite belong? Make sure it doesn't look like it's been tampered with.