How to Prevent Identity Theft Online
With the advent of the Internet and advanced computing technology, identity theft has become more prevalent. Criminals are not only getting smarter, but the means with which they steal identities are becoming more advanced. And, in general, there is more information available to steal. With the popularity of online shopping and banking, your personal information may be stored all over the place. So what can you do to prevent identity theft? And in particular, prevent your identity from being stolen online? Here are 3 different strategies to follow:
Use Random & Complex Passwords
In many cases of identity theft and online accounts being compromised, the victim had what’s considered to be an “easy” password. Passwords that include your own name, dates of birth, family members names, street names & addresses should all be tossed out the window; this is the kind of information that criminals can easily find in publicly available databases! If you use this information for your password, you’re making yourself vulnerable to identity theft. Opt for a randomized password that includes capital and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. Identity theft protection becomes a lot easier with this one simple tip – just make sure you write down this password somewhere in a safe place, because it will likely not be easy to remember.
Don’t Shop Online without a Secure Connection
Whenever you plan on submitting personal information online, particularly through an ecommerce website, you must absolutely make sure you are on a secure connection. It’s easy to tell the difference – when you’re on a normal website page, like looking up a shirt that you’re going to buy – the URL should start with “http”. When you’re on what should be a secure page, such as the checkout page, the URL should start with “https” – if not, don’t submit your information through that website, because the connection is not nearly as secure as it should be.
Use an Identity Theft Protection Service
Identity theft protection companies such as IdentityHawk add an extra layer of protection and insurance that’s just about required in this digital age. Along with $1 million in identity theft insurance, they’ll monitor all your online accounts and your identity 24/7 365 days a year. Without protection like that, you’re leaving your personal information and identity vulnerable.
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