Strategies To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

Millions of people suffer from identity theft and related frauds each year. Hackers are getting smarter, so how can you combat them and keep your information safe? Keep reading to learn about the multiple methods that scammers use and the strategies you can use to protect yourself from identity theft.

Be Smart About Your Passwords

Passwords are there to help you protect your various online accounts and information, so make sure you’re using them to their fullest potential. Start by password-protecting your devices, such as your laptop, smartphone, and tablet. From there, evaluate your individual accounts and the passwords for each. Create a strong, unique password for each account, and record all of your passwords in a protected password manager. Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts; otherwise, you put multiple accounts at risk of hacking.

Learn to Identify Phishing Scams

Hackers are getting increasingly clever by the year. New phishing scams are always in circulation, so we need to be prepared to identify these scams before they can do damage. Scammers could target you through several means, such as via email, through text, and even over the phone. Never give your personal information to anyone over the phone—no legitimate company will ask for your personal information over the phone. When you’re inspecting potentially fraudulent emails and text messages, never click on any external links, and look out for red flags such as poor grammar.

Protect Your Documents and Information

Your digital account information and files aren’t the only information at risk. There are also some best practices for protecting your physical documents and confidential information. Don’t leave mail to sit in your mailbox for extended periods of time, as thieves often target physical mail and the personal information it can hold. Also be sure to carefully file confidential information in a safe, secure space. Shred documents that contain personal information before you dispose of them, and destroy optical discs and other non-paper media before tossing them as well.

Don’t Give Out Personal Information Carelessly

Finally, be careful and always stay aware when you’re giving anyone your personal information. As we mentioned above, most institutions won’t call over the phone to request your personal information. If you feel suspicious of an institution requesting your information, ask for their credentials and cross-check them with the official business’s website. You should also be wary of transferring information digitally, such as over email. If your email account were to be hacked, the hacker would have access to any information you sent previously.

Hackers are smart, so we must be smarter. Use these strategies to protect yourself from identity theft and to keep your confidential information safe and secure.