Ways to Prevent Identity Theft

 

Identity theft can be alarming and it happens more often than you realize. Fortunately, there are ways you can secure yourself and gain more protection from identity theft. Some ways you can do this include setting strong passwords and storing them securely, disabling wifi when you are not using it, guarding against phishing attacks, and decentralizing your personal phone number.

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            One significant way to protect yourself from identity theft is by making secure passwords. Just as neglecting to lock your door leaves your house vulnerable to thieves, even so weak passwords  leave your personal accounts vulnerable to unauthorized access. To prevent potential hacker guides from directly logging into your accounts, it is important to set a password that cannot be easily guessed. Passwords such is “password” or “1234” offer almost no security against unauthorized access to your account. It is also important to avoid reusing passwords for different accounts. If anyone gets ahold of your password for one account, any other accounts with the same password are open to attack. Hackers often use specialized dictionaries listing common passwords and English words. Consequently, words used in your passwords are more secure when they are obscure since those are less likely to be in their list. Another method for composing passwords involves using a memorable sentence and a code (for instance, listing the first and last letters of every word). Such a password is significantly more secure than one using full words, since it cannot simply be cracked using a dictionary (Macej). Creating a strong password is one great way to keep your accounts secure from impersonators.

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            After you have created a strong password, it is important to store it securely. Physical paper can be a secure place to store passwords, especially if you live with people you trust. However, you should store that paper in a secure place to provide an additional barrier if someone does break into your house to steal your passwords. If you store passwords on a device, do not store them on basic word apps such as Notes or Notepad. Anyone who steals your device could easily access them. A thief could even obtain them straight off your device’s hard drive without even logging in (Hoffman)! Alternatively, a hacker could also gain control of your device through remote access or using a virus. Passwords stored in your browser’s auto-fill are similarly vulnerable. Password managers such as 1Password can offer great security and protection of your passwords, leaving you with only one password you need to remember to access your other passwords. Storing passwords in a secure place can prevent people from stealing your passwords from your records.

            Be wary of unsolicited messages and phone calls. One common way impersonators can steal your data is through phishing attacks. If you receive a random or unexpected communication from a company, be cautious of the message. If the message is in the form of a text or an email, do not use the links. Check the text number or email address, using a browser to navigate to the site, if possible. Even if the company is familiar, avoid sharing any passwords or personal information unless you are positive about the sender and his intent. Never share identifiable personal information such as your credit card number or SIN number in response to an unexpected message or phone call inviting you to participate in a lottery or survey, for example. That’s just asking for trouble! It is a good practice, to check your credit card regularly, ensuring that all the transactions are from you and that no one else has hijacked it. Being aware of phishing attacks can go a long way in protecting your identity.

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            Disabling your wifi when you are not using it is a less obvious, yet significant step to protect your identity. Many phones transmit the names of known networks when wifi is enabled, facilitating automatic connection. This unique list can act as a fingerprint, making your phone easy to identify and track. Hackers can use devices to exploit this information by identifying and mimicking these networks, allowing them to intercept your internet data and access the websites you explore on your phone. To reduce the risk of people observing and taking advantage of your list of known networks, it is a good idea to turn off your wifi when you are not using it and to tell your phone to forget any networks you do not use, so that your phone does not broadcast known networks wherever you go (Brockwell “Wifi”).

            Using a dedicated cell number for online accounts is a little-known yet effective way to reduce identity theft.  Almost every account you make has probably asked for information about yourself including your phone number. In broadly sharing this information, you risk a hacker discovering it and tracking your activities. With your number on hand, they can SIM-card swap your number, convincing your cell provider that you want to transfer your number to a device that they control and thus hijack your number. If you use your number to verify your identity in secure accounts, especially in two factor authentication in your bank and government accounts, your number can even decrease instead of increase your security. Using Voice Over Internet Protocol (or VOIP) can be a useful way to keep your number safe and to gain multiple numbers isolating your different accounts (“phone numbers”). Alternatively, you can authenticate your secure accounts using a designated SIM card which is never shared or used for any other purpose (“2-Factor-Authentication”). It is significantly harder for hackers to steal your number when they do not know what it is. Using dedicated numbers for accounts can significantly improve your security and privacy.

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            Identity theft may be a ubiquitous crime, but you do not need to be the victim. If you are diligent in securely composing and storing your passwords, guarding against phishing attacks, turning off your wifi, and using a dedicated phone number for online accounts, you will be well on your way on keeping your accounts secure and safe against hackers.

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