We\u2019re online more than ever, in large part because it allows us to take advantage of online conveniences like bill pay and booking appointments. But these many benefits might also leave us exposed to risks, like identity theft.<\/p>\n
Identity theft is characterized by one person using another\u2019s personal or financial data for their benefit. Cybercriminals may take information like a person\u2019s name, birthday, Social Security number, driver\u2019s license number, home address, and bank account information and use it for their benefit. A name and matching financial information, for instance, can be used to apply for credit cards or open new accounts.<\/p>\n
The good news is that you can safeguard yourself and your family with some best practices \u2014 allowing you to enjoy your best life online and worry less about cybercriminals. Share these 10 tips with your family to help keep your entire household safe.<\/p>\n
A good habit to get into is to password-protect<\/a> your computer, tablet, and mobile devices through unique, strong passwords. These devices are home to some of your most sensitive information, including everything from emails to apps that connect to your bank accounts. So, if these devices fall into the wrong hands, a password makes it harder to access your personal data.<\/p>\n Take some time to come up with your passwords, though. It\u2019s important to create strong passwords that hackers can\u2019t guess. A strong password will include a mix of symbols, numbers, and letters. Steer clear of simple passwords like \u201c123456\u201d (it might seem obvious, but this is one of the most common passwords people use<\/a>). Also, avoid including information that other people can guess, like your birthdate, home address, or name.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget to use different passwords for different accounts. If you use the same password across multiple accounts, and a fraudster gains access to one account, they may access the others. Fortunately, McAfee\u2019s identity protection services include a password manager<\/a>, which can help secure your account credentials across multiple devices. This tool encrypts passwords, storing them safely and making it easy to keep track of them.<\/p>\n Identity thieves are skilled at leveraging new technologies. Phishing is one great example of this. Phishing involves criminals masquerading as trustworthy entities, such as government agencies or banks, and using this trusted position to get sensitive information. Phishing scams started with traditional mail. They\u2019re now also done via phone, text, and email.<\/p>\n As a general rule of thumb, never give out any personal information when contacted by a business, bank, or another entity. Also, make sure your email spam filters detect phishing attempts. Never open emails from people you don\u2019t know, and don\u2019t download email attachments without knowing what they are. Some phishing<\/a> emails<\/a> include malware, which can infiltrate your device and access personal data. A McAfee Total Protection plan<\/a> is an all-in-one protection solution that can help you detect and avoid malware.<\/p>\n Fraudulent websites may also use phishing techniques. A website may look similar to the legitimate website of a mortgage lender, bank, or credit card company but might be a fraudulent platform seeking to get information from consumers. Always verify that any website you visit is the legitimate website of the institution, and consider McAfee <\/a>antivirus<\/a> software<\/a>, which offers a safe browsing solution.<\/p>\n When financial identity theft occurs, this can also impact financial institutions like banks and lenders. So, they\u2019re eager to prevent fraud, as well. One way they do this is through fraud alerts. You can set up your online banking to issue fraud alerts \u2014 for example, via an email, text message, or phone call \u2014 if your bank suspects suspicious activity on your account.<\/p>\n In some cases, a bank will also freeze your account until you verify whether the activity is legitimate. This is a common tactic used to protect against credit card fraud. Geo-control is one example: If you live in the U.S., but a German IP address uses your credit card, your credit card provider will likely issue an alert. You can also set up alerts for certain transaction amounts or types.<\/p>\n Your credit report is one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal for catching identity thieves and stopping them in their tracks. You\u2019re entitled to a free credit report every 12 months via AnnualCreditReport.com<\/a>, an initiative of the Federal Trade Commission<\/a> (FTC). You can get a free copy of your report from each major credit bureau: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.<\/p>\n Review your report thoroughly, checking for inaccuracies. When credit monitoring<\/a>, check your:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n If you find any discrepancies, contact the appropriate credit reporting company. You should also contact the relevant financial institution and visit IdentityTheft<\/a>.<\/a>gov<\/a>. You can report the suspected identity theft and find resources to help you recover.<\/p>\n Social media is great for connecting with others online, but it does open the door to some vulnerabilities. Be careful about what you post, and steer clear of sharing personal details<\/a> like your home address, children\u2019s names, pet\u2019s names, or birthdays, which some people use as passwords. If a social media platform offers two-factor authentication, opt in.<\/p>\n Images are another touchy subject. Never post photos that include private data, like a picture of your passport or vaccine card. Consider what\u2019s in the background of any photos \u2014 from your home (with a house number) to mail with your address. Finally, you may want to set your visibility to private on all social media accounts, limiting who can view them. And even if your account is private, you should still follow the above tips.<\/p>\n Some identity thieves get people\u2019s personal information by dumpster diving. One solution? Invest in a paper shredder. You\u2019ll be able to shred documents into tiny bits that are hard to piece together, making it that much harder for someone else to piece together any personal information they contain.<\/p>\n Here are some documents worth shredding:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not sure whether something needs to be shredded, go ahead and destroy it. It only takes seconds, and you\u2019re better off safe than sorry.<\/p>\n Whether you use a computer, tablet, or mobile device for many of your online activities, like paying bills, these devices contain a lot of personal data. So, it\u2019s good to protect them from hackers. \u200b\u200bInstall antivirus<\/a> software<\/a> like McAfee\u2019s to protect against viruses and spyware. It would be best if you also had a <\/a>firewall<\/a>, which is a network security system that controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic based on set security parameters.<\/p>\n To take your device security a step further, you may also want to invest in a virtual private network (VPN). This helps hide your online activity. It can safeguard against hackers on public networks but is also worth using at home. It hides details like browsing activity, personal data, and IP address from potential snoops. McAfee also offers VPN<\/a> services<\/a>.<\/p>\n While your computer, tablet, or mobile device may hold a great deal of personal data, you likely also have hard copies of sensitive documents worth protecting. Documents like your birth certificate, Social Security card, and passport contain valuable information that identity thieves can use for personal gain, so you want to make sure they\u2019re kept in a safe space.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t simply shove these documents into your desk drawer. It\u2019s best to keep them in a locked, fireproof home safe with a secure code. To keep things organized, put each document in a protective plastic sleeve and put the sleeves in a binder. This can be useful if you have a large family and need to keep track of everyone\u2019s data.<\/p>\n Sophisticated hackers don\u2019t just target individuals. They may also try to infiltrate businesses, government agencies, higher education institutions, health care facilities, and any other organization that gathers sensitive consumer information. If an entity is subject to a data breach, they\u2019re legally required to notify any consumers who may have been impacted.<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s still good to inform yourself about potential breaches that may affect you. Larger-scale data security risks are usually reported in the media. We also post about data breaches on the McAfee blog<\/a>. If an entity you do business with has been affected, change your passwords and the passwords of any related accounts immediately.<\/p>\n Knowing possible signs of identity theft can help you catch it early so that you can continue to enjoy your time online. Educate yourself and your family about these warning signs, ensuring everybody stays safe. Here are some possible indications identity thieves have targeted you:<\/p>\n The internet keeps all of us connected, but that\u2019s why identity theft protection is important. With people increasingly connected, doing more, and sharing more online, cybercriminals can pinpoint weaknesses and take advantage. Hackers are ready to leverage your information for personal gain, and identity theft is no exception.<\/p>\nLearn how to identify and avoid phishing scams<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Set up alerts through your bank<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Review your credit report regularly<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Be mindful of what you share on social media<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Shred sensitive documents<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Protect all of your devices with antivirus software<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Keep personal documents in a safe space<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Follow the news to learn about data breaches<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Know the warning signs of identity theft<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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You\u2019re only a step away from better protection<\/strong><\/h2>\n