Most business and personal information is online. It is estimated that 22% of households have been victims of identity theft and that these victims have lost an average of $12,000.
Most of us have online accounts — from Facebook and Instagram to email, banking and shopping. All those accounts give predators many opportunities to steal your logins, passwords and, ultimately, your identity. April 9 is Identity Management Day, and we have some tips to keep you safe online.
Best practices to protect your identity
- Don’t reuse usernames and passwords. Keep your Publix passwords different from your personal accounts and your social media passwords different from your online banking account.
- Use 2-factor authentication as often as possible. Consider it a deadbolt on your online doors. Two-factor authentication adds enhanced security by sending a phone call, text message or app notification to verify who you say you are before granting access to the digital account.
- Think before you click. Scammers will try anything to steal your information and your identity. In addition to phishing emails, they may try “quishing,” QR code phishing, and “smishing,” SMS phishing. In both cases, cybercriminals lure victims into sharing their personal information, clicking on malicious links or downloading malware. Be smart. Don’t click on it if you aren’t expecting it, it appeals to your emotions or has a sense of urgency. Be suspicious if someone wants your personal information.
- Use a password manager to keep your usernames and passwords safe. Some of the technology you already use can manage your accounts and passwords. For instance, an iPhone can securely store and monitor your passwords, alerting you if they appear in known data breaches. Google Chrome offers a similar service.
- Stay current. To help protect your digital identity, ensure your devices have the latest security updates and patches.
