Target, Yahoo, Equifax , Marriott/Starwood are among the many major corporations who have all suffered major data breaches. The next attack is not a question of “if” but “when” and “whom.” If you’ve been online for the last 10 years or so, it’s likely that your personal information has been compromised in some way. According to the credit bureau TransUnion, nearly 75% of online shoppers who have had their personal information stolen, were victimized during the months of November and December – prime online shopping season. We know the problem, now here’s what you need to know…

How can it affect me?

Identity theft is a nightmare scenario. If your personal information is stolen, according to experian it can be sold to other criminals ranging from $1 to $2000, depending on the type of information stolen.  The criminals can then build a financial profile, including credit, in your name. They can steal from your bank account, ruin your credit score or commit fraudulent crimes in your name that can have serious financial drawbacks for you, even when you’re none the wiser.

What can I do about it?

The best method to protect against identity theft is to ensure it never happens. These five steps will help you safeguard your personal information:

• Use Updated Anti-Virus Software

Criminals use malware to steal usernames, passwords, and personal information from their victims. Once installed on your computer, the invasive software will scan keystrokes and send everything you type back to the thief. In order to safeguard against malware, install a trusted anti-virus software and keep it up to date.

• Access the Internet Securely

You’d be surprised how many people’s password is ‘password’. To prevent criminals from cracking into your accounts, set up multiple complex passwords with capitalized and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Also, accessing Wi-Fi from public hotspots opens up your computer to invasion. If you must use the internet at a café, don’t log into any accounts.

• Identify and Avoid Phishing Scams

Phishing scams are designed to trick you into willingly give your information to criminals. They come in a number of forms, from deceptive emails riddled with computer viruses to surveys insisting you’ll win a cool prize if you fill out the required information. Sophisticated phishing scams appear personable and legit at first glance, so be sure to read emails carefully before clicking any links.

• Keep Your Information Private

Criminals don’t mind getting their hands dirty, so destroy sensitive documents before tossing them in the trash. Shred everything that has account numbers or identifiers and cut up expired credit cards to make sure no one unsavory gets their hands on them. In the age of social media, privacy is a thing of the past. While it’s okay to share what you ate for breakfast or pictures of your cute cat, keep personal information private.

• Obtain a Trusted Credit Monitoring and Identity Theft Protection Service

Would you pay the price of one ‘drive-thru meal,’ for monthly Consultation, Credit, Identity and Internet Monitoring Services? Imagine dealing with a worst-case scenario on your own. Who would you call? Where would you begin? IDShield is one of many protection services out there, but it’s the only identity theft protection company armed with a team of dedicated licensed private investigators to recover and restore your identity to it’s pre-theft status, should it ever become compromised.

Identity theft is a serious problem that affects millions of people every year. The situation is critical and the impact on your life can be so significant, we elevated Credit monitoring and Identity Theft Protection  from a Recommended to a Required status, as part of the solowealth financial plan. Make sure you don’t become another victim by protecting yourself against the slippery tactics criminals use.

Comments are closed.