These days, we’re connected to the web 24/7, be it in our personal or professional life.
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Staying online has made things simpler and convenient for you, but identity theft is a problem that you can overlook today. That is why you need to figure e out how online threats occur and what you should do to protect yourself from fraudulent activities.
According to an article published on Forbes, data breaches are increasing and cyber hackers are turning more technology-savvy. Based on the findings of Identity Theft Resource Center, approx 165 million sensitive data were open near to 15,000 violations of government and private companies in America in the year 2019.
In this article, we will walk through some of the essential aspects related to identity theft to help you stay protected from fraud.
1. Internet presence may prove unsafe for you
Making your social networking accounts public or over-sharing may leave you susceptible to identity theft. Hackers can learn about name, address, phone number, and date of birth by looking at your Facebook or Twitter account if you do not use the privacy settings of these platforms. Using such simple details, fraudsters may apply for medical insurance or credit cards, open a new bank account, and even register for a new driver’s license using your name and personal details.
You are also at risk if you use public Wi-Fi making you susceptible to cyber hackers, who could tamper with an unprotected internet connection to obtain your personal data and use it to their benefit. You need to use a VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi. Besides, if you have more queries and wondering what is identity guard, research online to learn how you can secure your digital data and personal information.
2. Protect yourself from becoming a victim
Identity fraud or theft is something that can affect anyone. All you need to do is stay aware and protect your sensitive information such as bank and credit card information. You can get rid of personal information that you no longer use like old credit cards and bank statements. Even if you keep them, make sure to keep such documents safe from unauthorized access. Use strong passwords for bank or credit card statements. While assigning passwords, use a mix of upper and lowercase letters, special characters, and numbers. Make passwords difficult to guess and never write your passwords on paper or digital form.
3. Protect children and seniors from identity thefts
Adults are not only the sole victims of identity theft. These days, kids and senior citizens make online transactions, use digital devices, and operate bank accounts. Teens do not check their credit history and this allows hackers to steal their online data and use it illegally. Parents should, therefore, ask for their kid’s credit report every year and take the right steps to set up a financial record when applying for ID cards, school loans, or for that matter, credit cards.
Conclusion
These are just a couple of things you need to keep in mind to protect your online data and confidential information like bank and credit card data. Stay safe online and protect yourself from fraudsters.