Is it safe to email your SIN, passport or ID?Why email is a poor place for identity documents, what actually happens to an attachment you send, when you have no choice, and safer alternatives that most Canadians already have access to.
How to send sensitive documents securely in CanadaA ranked list of ways to send identity and financial documents, from best to worst, what to ask the recipient for, and how to reduce what you send in the first place.
How to password-protect a PDF before you send itHow PDF passwords actually work, the difference between an open password and a permissions password, how to add one on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android, and where password protection fails.
Who can legally ask for your SIN in Canada — and who cannotWhich organizations are authorized to collect your Social Insurance Number, who commonly asks without authority, how to decline politely, and what to do if a service refuses you for saying no.
How long to keep tax records and documents in CanadaThe CRA six-year rule explained, what to keep permanently, what to shred and when, how long to keep records for a business or rental property, and why digital copies count.
What to do if your SIN or ID is stolen in CanadaThe first 24 hours after identity theft in Canada — who to call, how to place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus, when Service Canada issues a new SIN, and how to document everything.
Your data was in a breach — what to do nowHow to read a breach notification, what different types of exposed data actually put at risk, the steps that are worth taking, and your rights under Canadian privacy law.
Where your documents actually live when you upload themWhat data residency means, why the jurisdiction of a server matters, how to find out where a service stores your files, and the questions worth asking before you upload identity documents.
Not losing your documents when you moveA moving checklist for the paperwork — what to carry yourself, every address change to file, mail forwarding, and the expiry dates a move quietly breaks.
What to send a realtor, broker or consultant — and what not toWhat documents Canadian professionals genuinely need, what they should never ask for, how to verify someone is licensed, and how to share without handing over more than the job requires.
How to spot a fake government website or message in CanadaHow to tell a real canada.ca or ontario.ca page from a lookalike, the rules real agencies follow when contacting you, the paid-form trap, and what to do if you already entered your details.