Imagine waking up one day to find that someone has stolen your identity, opened credit cards in your name, or even withdrawn money from your bank accounts. It’s something that can easily happen if your personal data falls into the hands of cybercriminals. In our interconnected world, data breaches and identity theft are a constant threat, making it more important than ever to guard your sensitive personal information. That’s why April 8th is Identity Management Day, a reminder to take steps to protect your digital identity from online threats.
So, what is your digital identity? It’s all the private data that’s gathered about you on the internet – from details like your email address, physical address, and date of birth, to bank account information and even purchasing habits. The more information you share online, the more vulnerable you become to cyber threats. For example, when you let a company save your address and credit card information, it may make your next online purchase easier, but it also increases the risk to your data if that company gets hacked. During the third quarter of 2024, data breaches exposed more than 422 million records worldwide.
Tips for protecting your data
Cyber thieves are getting smarter and smarter using methods like phishing and malware to gain access to a piece of your personal information. Once they have that they can use it to gain access to your digital life, commit fraud impersonating you, or sell it to others. That’s why staying diligent and protecting your online identity is critical. The best ways to do that are:
- Strong passwords: The number one way to protect your personal information is the simplest one. Make your passwords long, complex, and unique. Never recycle them! That way if one of your passwords is leaked, hackers won’t be able to use it to access any of your other accounts.
- Password managers: Of course, we all need many unique passwords and it’s tricky to keep track of them all, especially when they’re complicated and one-of-a-kind. That’s where a password manager comes in. All Webroot solutions such as Webroot Essentials include a password manager to keep your online safety simple. You only need to remember one password and Webroot manages the rest – keeping all your logins, passwords, and payment details organized and protected.
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA): By adding an extra security step, like a code sent to your phone, multi-factor authentication (MFA) makes it much harder for cybercriminals to break into your accounts.
- Identity protection services: Antivirus programs protect against a wide range of malicious software designed to steal your personal information. For unmatched security and support, Webroot Premium and Webroot Total Protection offer all-in-one protection and include real-time monitoring to safeguard you from identity theft, as well as bank and credit fraud.
- Credit card fraud alerts: For extra security, set up fraud alerts by contacting your credit card company or any of the three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. Fraud alerts require creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening accounts and lines of credit in your name.
- Bank account alerts: Set up bank account alerts to help monitor for any unusual banking activity. You can choose to get alerts via phone, email or text.
- Credit card freeze: Consider putting a credit card freeze on any credit cards you’re not using. This puts a temporary hold on your card and prevents all purchases until you decide to unfreeze it.
- Check bank statements: Review your bank statements monthly. Checking on your statements can help you spot suspicious activity and catch fraudulent transactions quickly.
Keeping your digital identity safe is not just a one-day event, it’s an ongoing commitment to protect your personal information. Identity Management Day serves as a valuable reminder to be proactive. From using MFA and strong passwords to setting up alerts on your credit cards and bank account, you can help safeguard your sensitive information. Don’t wait until you become a victim of identity theft – start strengthening your identity security today.
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