So am I! One of the reasons I have such an intensive screening process is to make sure that I’m not putting myself at risk of being compromised. I also have some tips for you to use to keep us both safer!
Screening
Employment
I will not meet with folks who are in certain professions. Employment screening helps to ensure that those who I don’t want to meet do not make it in my door. This way they cannot endanger me or any of my past or future clients.
Identification
This helps me to verify that you are who you say you are, which helps to solidify the employment verification.
Vaccinations
This will not always be a requirement. With COVID risk still high, I want to rendezvous with folks who meet my safety standards. This will minimize the risk that any of us will be asked to participate in contact tracing. Once the risk is lower, I won’t be requiring these. However, I always strongly prefer to meet with folks who have ALL their vaccinations (Hepatitis A and B, Gardasil, Flu Shot, COVID). Vaccines = less risk = more fun!
I treat your information with a great deal of discretion. My reputation is very important to me and the trust my clients place in me. I do not hold on to it long term. That is why you may be asked to screen again if it has been too long. During the pandemic, I have been very busy getting a new dedicated work phone and computer. Both have much more rigorous security standards than I was using before.
But there are things you can do too!
Communications
You may notice that my primary email address is with ProtonMail. ProtonMail is a company that is lauded for high security, end-to-end encryption. But this only applies if you are emailing between two ProtonMail addresses. If you get a ProtonMail address, our communications will get this level of security. There is some protection if only one of us has such an address, but it is nowhere near as good as both of us having one. ProtonMail offers a function for “Disappearing Messages” that allow you to set an email to auto-delete after a certain amount of time has passed. Consider using it as your primary email address for everything. ProtonMail can keep unwanted surveillance out of all your communications. It’s free and you should check it out!
Texting
Once you have my phone number, it can be easier to text me instead of emailing. However, regular texting is NOT secure and can be subject to surveillance by your phone company or worse. There are many “secure” messaging apps available, but there is only one that I trust. Signal is a company whose sole focus is to create top-notch privacy for communications. It offers end-to-end encryption for users and it also has a “Disappearing Messages” setting. I will enable this the first time you text me. This is a fantastic app for all of your texting and I encourage everyone to use it to increase your overall privacy. I will not use any other messaging apps (WhatsApp belongs to FaceBook), and I don’t want to message via regular SMS texting. For phone dates, it can also be used to place secure calls (be aware it does use data instead of regular network). Signal is completely free to use as well!
Content
Even if you are using fully encrypted email and texting services, it is important for you to be discreet when arranging a meeting. Save any substantial conversation for the ultimate privacy of the two of us alone together. Minimize text and email as much as possible, and keep all text-based conversations family-friendly. A little mystery goes a long way, and offers us both added protection.
Security and privacy are very important issues to me, and I hope they are important to you too. I know that it can be intimidating to go through a complete screening process, but it does serve a function that will ultimately protect you as well as me. Let’s all do our parts to enjoy time together safely and in total privacy!