Statistically, most cybercriminals tend to avoid "important" and high-value targets. Instead, everyone should be involved. That's true at best, but the covid-19 pandemic has only intensified and emboldened their search for sensitive and vulnerable people.
Identity theft (opens in a new window) can suddenly and violently change your life. Sometimes it can send your credit score plummeting, and depending on the type and extent of the fraud, recovery can take months and thousands of dollars.
The following suggestions are best practices for anyone who wants to proactively protect themselves against identity theft:
Use a password manager
The average person has around 70-80 passwords, which inevitably leads to handwritten notes. Worse yet, according to a Harris survey conducted by Google, two out of three users admit to reusing passwords across multiple accounts. A password manager (opens in a new tab) is your friend here, helping you create strong and unique passwords for each account. He encrypts them and also stores them in a secure password vault: he only needs to remember one master password. Attackers can hack into a password manager app, but your encrypted passwords won't do them any good. If you keep your master password safe, you should be too.
Those who are still unconvinced about password managers should, at the very least, start creating unique passwords that use the maximum number of characters allowed. Remember to reset a password immediately if an account is hacked. As a general rule, do not allow your browser to remember account passwords and never use your credentials from one site (such as social media) to create an account or log in to other (third party) websites. Whenever possible, create usernames that don't include your name, email address, or date of birth clues. This gives cybercriminals half the information they need to hack into your accounts.
Use multi-factor authentication
Forget the "drawbacks" of multi-factor authentication, which requires you to enter a code sent via SMS after providing a username and password. This is an effective additional security layer that should be used for every account that makes it available to you.
Stop sharing too much online
Rethink how and what you share online. Nothing makes you an easier target for identity thieves than a large amount of voluntarily shared personal information. Combine this digital bounty with all of the "silent" data that accumulates behind the scenes, and there are criminals out there who can impersonate you in minutes.
To stay safe, it's a good idea to clear your social media and networking accounts of personal information (date or place of birth, maiden name, mother's maiden name, address, phone number, pet name, hobby). , etc.). Use only the strictest privacy settings and choose your "friends" carefully (including reporting duplicate friend requests). Resist social media quizzes or games (most are designed to collect personal information). Don't download apps from unknown sources; be careful with links and ads on your social media feed, including those from people you know (as their accounts may have been hacked). Finally, turn off location tagging and avoid sharing content like photos if you're out and about. It is impossible to list all the precautions, but try to ask yourself: "Why is this information constantly needed?" Who benefits? Could this harm my privacy or compromise my identity? »
Protect your privacy at home
Secure your home wireless network, use only IoT devices that allow you to change passwords and manage security settings, and safely dispose of old phones (opens in a new tab), laptops (opens in a new tab) and storage devices (opens in a new tab). new tab) ).
Also, it's crucial not to neglect low-tech measures like securing your mailbox, collecting your mail daily, disabling direct mail advertising, and using a paper shredder, cross-cut, or micro-cut to remove all documents containing information. personal (including junk files). mail). Check that you do not leave valuables (passports, identity cards, wallets) in cars or other places accessible to the public.
Protect your privacy in public
It's hard to believe anyone needs this reminder, but public Wi-Fi (opens in a new tab) is extremely susceptible to eavesdropping. Never use it for online banking, shopping (any activity involving a credit card), or medical and health-related services. Don't share private information (such as credit card numbers, date of birth, social security number, or membership numbers) during voice calls in public places. When using point of sale systems, you must also protect PINs, membership numbers and other identifiers. Be careful when swiping a card (beware of hard-to-spot skimmers!) and remember that cash still works in most places.
Avoid being an easy target
Consumers are often confused, frustrated or surprised by the endless variety of clever schemes scammers devise to pull off scams. The constant stream of news on the subject is such that the average person can feel overwhelmed and, in some cases, helpless. In an ideal world, this should never happen, and a few simple steps (like those listed above) can make a world of difference. Scammers don't like obstacles, so the more obstacles you put in their way, the better. The key is to avoid becoming an easy target. Know what you need to do (within your realm of possibility) and stay alert to do it. These days, doing nothing is not an option.