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5 Tips to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

By far, the most alarming threat everyone faces today is data breaches hitting organizations that store user data. Since everything is online these days, users need to sign up or sign in using their email or social media account.

By Daniel William CarterPublished 4 years ago 2 min read
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The problem happens when the company or service provider suffers a massive breach that allows hackers to steal detailed user data.

The stolen information is then used for identity theft or sold in the black market. It doesn't matter how secure your laptop and phone are - there's nothing you can do when a hotel or your favorite email service gets breached.

That's not the worst part.

Organizations often report the breach months after they find out. This behavior gives users no time to at least change their passwords or freeze their credit cards.

The damage is done.

How to Protect Your Identity Online?

Here are the top five tips to protect your identity online. These tips also apply to all members of your family.

1. Use a professional, trusted, and reliable identity theft and monitoring service.

If you've been a victim before or a high-value target, getting an identity theft monitoring service is your best defense. Choose a company that monitors millions of data points to detect if your information is bought or sold online. Identity theft monitoring services like IDStrong checks a plethora of sources to make sure your identity is secure.

2. Use security software on all your devices.

Protect all computers, smartphones, and other devices in your home with up-to-date security software. The goal is to keep the bad guys out. Once an attacker gains access to your devices, any safeguards will be of little use, and your data will be compromised. Make sure that your operating system has the newest security updates. Use a VPN, especially when using public Wi-Fi.

3. Use strong passwords and never use the same one twice.

Weak passwords like your birthday or QWERTY are easy to bypass. Use a password generator like the one in Google Chrome, so you never have to reuse any passwords. Never share your password with anyone, and tell everyone in your household to do the same. If you have kids, tell them they can share their password with you so you can check if their accounts have been compromised. Always use two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts if it's available.

4. Learn how to spot phishing emails and scams.

Hackers use phishing attacks to trick users into giving their personal and financial details. Once they get the data, crooks will target the victim repeatedly with all sorts of scams. Phishing emails usually have spelling errors and use words such as "Urgent" or "Hello Dear." Banks and other services you subscribe to will use your name. Phishing emails do not.

5. Never open an email from strangers and never click any links online.

Cybercriminals dupe users into downloading malware, trojans, and viruses onto their computers. These are dangerous programs that can steal user information when clicked. Never click on any links that even people you know send you. Instead of using the link, try to find the website online using a search engine.

Conclusion

Identity theft is a lucrative enterprise for cybercriminals and a massive problem for victims. The online menace is only growing, and the massive data breaches to Equifax and Starwood Marriot drive the point home even more. Chances are you're reading this post on either a computer, a tablet, or a mobile phone, which makes you a target if you don't take steps to protect yourself.

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