Look anywhere online and you’ll find stories about people who have lost not only their computers (due to viruses), but their very lives. More and more people are becoming victims to identity theft, causing them to lose their lives to people who are, more often than not, a world away. It’s no wonder that some people are worried about using programs such as screen sharing. They believe that these very programs will cause them to lose their identity to someone else. There are some steps you can take to ensure that your identity and computer remain safe during screen sharing.

Tip #1: No Private Information

Make sure, before you indulge in screen sharing, that there is no private information available on your screen or on your desktop. Making sure your screen is wiped of all private information is fairly easy. Making sure that your desktop has no private information on it, however, isn’t quite as easy. You may not be planning on using the desktop during your screen sharing session, but more often than not, it happens, so you need to be prepared. In order to be ready for the meeting, you may want to create an invisible folder on your desktop that you can drag all of your icons into. This will allow you to keep everything safe at one time while not creating too much of a hassle for you.

Also, make sure that you don’t speak any private information when you are dealing with someone online. If you use your real name for your business needs, try to avoid giving other information, such as your private address. These may seem like small things, but an identity thief can use such information to ferret out who you are and what your more confidential information is.

Tip #2: Secure Sharer

Make sure that you are using a secure screen sharing company when you select on. If you choose to use one that is not secure, your information could be broadcast to a number of different people. There are many different companies online, such as http://www.ShowMyPc.com, who come highly recommended and who are adept at making sure that your information is kept from unwanted third parties.

It is also important to choose a safe sharer so that you can be sure that you don’t get a virus or worm that could cause a great deal of trouble on your computer.

Tip #3: Know your Sharer

Before you agree to screen share with anyone, make sure you know who they are first. It should be someone that you have worked with for awhile, or someone that you have had physical contact with. It may seem harmless, but screen sharing can cause you to have a great deal of trouble if you don’t do it safely.