The internet has completely upgraded our lifestyle to a different level altogether. It has impacted our ways of communication, our lifestyle, and our professional life. However, with this upgrade, some disadvantages come with interacting in cyberspace. Identity theft is one of the major challenges that people all around the world face. Hackers and cybercriminals are always on their toes to steal your personal information. Therefore, it becomes inevitable for online users to take the necessary steps to safeguard themselves against these fraudsters. This article is a good resource that gives you in-depth guidance on securing your digital footprint. It helps you to understand how you can fortify your browsing history, social media activity, emails, online purchases, and any other digital interactions.
What is Online Identity Theft?
In layman’s terms, identity theft is an activity wherein someone unethically steals your details and performs an illegal activity. Some of the common information that fraudsters eye is the following:
- Name
- Address
- Date Of Birth
- Social Security Number
- Bank Account Details
- Credit Card Numbers
They can even target your critical online credentials, like:
- Usernames and Passwords
- Email Addresses
- Social Media Logins
- Online banking account numbers and PINs
- Debit and Credit card numbers, expiration dates, and CVV codes
- API Keys
- Cryptocurrency Wallet Keys
Digital thieves can create havoc with this vital personal data. They can potentially do the activities mentioned below:
- Open new bank accounts:
- Make online purchases
- File fraudulent tax returns
- Take out loans in your name.
- Control your social networking sites.
This can drain out your money, hit your credit scores, and even get you into legal complications. Moreover, reclaiming your identity is very taxing and eats away a considerable amount of your time, money, and resources.
What Are The Key Techniques For Secure Internet Use?
The Internet has become part and parcel of our daily lives. It provides a convenient method of shopping, banking, communicating, and shopping. In short, you rely on it for everything and cannot stop its use. However, the internet can make your personal information vulnerable to hacking and scams. The aforementioned can be a line of defense to fortify your private details and personal data
1. Usage of Strong Passwords
Strong passwords can be the first method of protecting your personal information. Even though it seems simple, it is one of the most effective methods. It is a must to keep strong passwords for:
- Email accounts
- Social media platforms
- Online banking
- Work and Business Accounts
- Government Services
Along with that, you should also have a secure password for other online operations that might not look so necessary, like:
- Messaging Apps
- Travel and Booking Sites
- Subscription Services
- Home Security Systems
The characteristics of a strong password that is difficult to crack are:
- 12 characters
- Alphanumeric with capital and small letter
- Use of special characters
- Unique password for each account
You should also not use passwords such as:
- Common Passwords: 123456
- Personal information like Date of birth
- Repetitive passwords such as abc123
- Keyword patterns like qwerty
There are reputable password managers that can generate and store complex passwords. They encrypt your passwords and can even auto-fill them, which makes it easy to manage multiple strong passwords.
2. Be Aware of Phishing Scams
A phishing scam is a common tool of cybercriminals to draw attention and create situations that prompt a person to reveal sensitive information or perform actions that compromise their security. They use emails, text messages, or even phone calls that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks, a social media platform, or a government agency. These messages create a sense of urgency or fear, which makes people take the impulsive decision of clicking on a link, downloading an attachment, or providing personal information.
Approaches for phishing scam protection
- Ignore unexpected, suspicious, or unsolicited emails
- Check the sender’s email address for misspellings or unusual domain names.
- Hover over links before clicking to find out if the domain seems authentic
- Don’t download attachments from unknown senders
- Avoid providing personal information because credible organizations won’t ask for it.
3. Secure Your Devices
Your gadgets, like laptops, computers, and smartphones, are portals to hacking your sensitive data. Therefore, securing them should be your top priority through these measures:
- Installation and regular updates of antivirus software to guard your device from malware, viruses, and other threats.
- Update your software and operating system to fix vulnerabilities.
- Use a firewall to create a barrier between your computer and the internet and jam unauthorized access.
- Integrate two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible to craft an extra layer of security along with your password.
4. Monitor Your Accounts and Credit Reports Regularly
- Regularly monitor your bank accounts, credit card statements, and credit reports to detect any suspicious activity early on.
- Monitor your credit reports and accounts consistently.
- Constantly monitoring your bank accounts, credit card statements, and credit reports can assist in the prompt discovery of any unusual activity that can be suspicious
- Review your bank and credit card statements regularly and search for any transactions that are not authorized.
- Conduct an annual review of your credit reports, which is a simple online process.
- It is advisable to set up transaction alerts that notify you of any activity on your account that is available from numerous banks and credit card companies.
- Install a security lockdown or fraud alert on your credit reports. Organizations have a responsibility to validate your identity first before opening new accounts in your name in response to a fraud alert.
- A security lockdown is a measure that hinders the ability of identity fraudsters to establish new accounts by preventing them from accessing your credit report.
5. Be Careful of What You Click On
- Cybercriminals often use malicious links to get malware onto additional systems and devices to redirect you to deceptive sites that are set up to steal your information.
- Refrain from clicking on links in unsolicited emails or text messages.
- Be careful of connections on social media, even if they look like they come from close friends and colleagues.
- Before selecting, hover over the links to view the actual URL.
- Instead of tapping on links, directly enter website addresses into your browser.
- Do not rely on a link if you are uncertain about its validity.
6. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
A VPN conceals your IP address by establishing a secure, encrypted tunnel for your internet connection. This additional layer of security complicates the process of cybercriminals intercepting your personal information and monitoring your browsing. A VPN is particularly beneficial on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, but it also enhances your overall privacy and data security when connected to your home computer network.
7. Protect Yourself From Data Breaches
- Sadly, data attacks are becoming more prevalent. Companies and organizations of all sizes are susceptible to attacks that may compromise the privacy of their consumers or users.
- Replace your credentials immediately upon receiving notification that your information may have been compromised in a data breach.
- Utilize a service that monitors for data breaches and immediately notifies you if your information is discovered on the dark web.
- For a list of identity theft protection services, check out the Cybernews website.
8. Properly Dispose of Sensitive Documents
- Don’t just throw away old bank records, credit card bills, or other papers that have personal information on them. The best option is to destroy or shred them instead. This will prevent identity scammers from acquiring them from your garbage or any other place that you have left them carelessly.
- Make use of a secure mailbox to prevent mail theft and secure it to avoid access to sensitive mail.
- It is advisable to freeze your child’s credit. This is an excellent method for protecting their credit in the future.
9. Verify Callers
Exercise caution when disclosing sensitive data or any confidential information through the phone and confirm the caller’s identity.
10. Be Vigilant
- Familiarize yourself with the most recent identity theft schemes and methods because staying informed can ensure your safety. A multi-layered approach and continuous vigilance are necessary to safeguard your online identity.
- Maintain awareness of data breaches. All security websites and news outlets frequently publish news regarding significant breaches.
Conclusion
You have to adhere to the procedures detailed in this article. This can drastically decrease the danger of identity theft and allow you to enjoy a more secure online experience. Keep in mind that the most effective way to protect your personal information in the digital age is to remain informed and proactive.