Safeguarding your identity is more important than ever. According to last years research, millions of identity theft cases are reported each year. Many involving financial losses or loans that victims are left stuck with. And the worst part? These are only the reported cases.
If you’re not protecting yourself or regularly scanning the internet for signs of identity misuse, you might not even know your identity has already been stolen and used. With the rise of AI, it has never been easier for hackers to steal identities. Much of it happening on autopilot.
But luckily, there are plenty of simple, practical steps you can take to safeguard your identity and protect both yourself and your children from identity theft.
Overview
- 1. Use Strong and unique passwords
- 2. Enable Two Factor Authentication (2FA)
- 3. Use A Trusted VPN On Public Wifi
- 4. Check If Your Data Has Been Leaked
- 5. Be Aware Of Phising Emails
- 6. Limit What You Share On Social Media
- 7. Protect Data Offline
- 8. Monitor Your Bank And Credit Statements
- 9. Use Security Software And Keep It Updated
- Key Takeaway’s
1. Use Strong and unique passwords
One of the simplest things you can do to safeguard your identity is to use strong, unique passwords. Yet most people still get this wrong.
These days, almost all of your personal information is stored online somewhere. Normally, this data can only be accessed by you with your login details. But many people still use weak and easy to guess passwords like 12345 or John1985!.
If hackers get hold of your email address through a data breach, they’ll often use AI to try millions of common passwords automatically. If your password is weak, there’s a high chance they’ll gain access to your account and see even more of your data. And if you use the same password elsewhere, they can log in to those accounts too.
What Is A Good Password?
A strong password should be at least 12 characters long and include as much variation as possible. Uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. For example: R7v#qM2!zLp9@.
You might be thinking, “How am I supposed to remember that?”. Well, you don’t have to. You can either write it down securely or use a slightly simpler password that’s still hard to guess, like MyCarHas7Tires#. This is easier to remember but still far better than something like john1985!.
An even better option is to use a password manager like NordPass. It’s the safest and easiest way to store and generate strong passwords without the hassle of writing them down. Your passwords are encrypted and auto filled when you log in to websites, so you don’t have to remember them.
The best part is, NordPass offers both paid and free lifetime plans, so there’s really no excuse not to start using strong passwords today.
2. Enable Two Factor Authentication (2FA)
Once you have strong passwords in place, it’s time to start using Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
Without 2FA, hackers can log in as soon as they get hold of your login details. But when you enable 2FA, they still won’t be able to access your account, even if they have your password. They would also need your unique 2FA code.
Luckily, Using 2FA is completely free. Most websites and apps already support it. However, not all 2FA methods are equally secure.
For example, some services send you a 6 digit code via SMS or email when you log in. While convenient, this method is vulnerable. It’s often easy for hackers to find out your email address or phone number, and if they do, they may gain access through SIM swapping or email hacks.
A safer option is to use an authenticator app like Google authenticator. This app is free and more secure. It generates a new 6 digit code every 30 seconds on your device. The only way a hacker could get the code is by having physical access to your phone. Without that code, they won’t be able to log in. This keeps your accounts much more secure.
3. Use A Trusted VPN On Public Wifi
This might be the most important tip of all nine. Whether you’re using public Wi-Fi or even your home network, hackers can potentially see what you’re doing. They can intercept your connection, and when you browse websites or log into accounts, they are able to read the information you enter, including your username and password. They can read it in a special kind of code, for example, if you’re not protected, a login request might look like this to an attacker: POST /login HTTP/1.1 username=john&password=1234.
This is one of the most common ways hackers and other malicious actors track your online activity and access your personal data. In many cases, the data about your browsing habits is sold to large companies so they can target you with extremely specific ads.
But when you use a VPN, all your internet traffic is encrypted. This means no one, not even your internet provider or a hacker on the same network, can read it. That same login request would look more like this: R&$3#JSDKG&U98n3r923!!@##. Clearly, that’s unreadable and useless to attackers.
By using a VPN, you gain the ability to browse, log in, and do whatever you want online with peace of mind, knowing no one can spy on your activity. This helps protect your data and makes it much harder for anyone to steal your identity.
One of the most popular VPNs today is NordVPN. It’s one of the largest VPN providers and offers extra tools to boost your digital security. Remember NordPass, the password manager? That’s one of their products too. They even offer bundled plans that include their VPN, password manager, and other protection tools.
4. Check If Your Data Has Been Leaked
It’s amazing that you’re finally taking steps to protect your identity against theft. But what if your data has already been leaked in the past? Is there still any point in protecting yourself?
Fortunately, yes. There are tools that allow you to check if your personal data has ever been exposed in a data breach. For example, a company like Facebook may have stored a lot of your data, and if they were ever hacked, that information could now be circulating on the dark web.
You can use tools like NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitor or Surfshark’s Identity Alert. Surfshark, primarily known as a VPN provider, also offers a plan that includes ID leak detection. NordVPN offers NordProtect, which includes active dark web monitoring and other features designed to safeguard your identity.
It’s important to know whether your personal data is already on the dark web so that you can change your credentials or contact details as soon as possible. That way, criminals won’t be able to use it to commit fraud or steal your money.
If you’re unaware that your data has been leaked, you could be protecting information that’s already compromised, and that offers a false sense of security. That’s why checking for leaks is a crucial first step in truly protecting yourself online.
5. Be Aware Of Phising Emails
A lot of people still fall for is phishing emails. Phishing emails are messages that hackers send to try and steal your personal information. They do this by pretending to be a trusted source, such as your bank or Facebook. They lead you to a website that looks exactly like the real one. Once you enter your login details, you won’t actually log in, because it’s a fake website. Instead, the hackers now have your credentials.
One of the ways to protect yourself is by using a password manager. These tools automatically fill in your login details only on legitimate websites. If you’re on a fake site, your password manager won’t recognize it, and it won’t fill anything in.
Sometimes, phishing emails don’t try to steal your data directly, but instead trick you into downloading a virus or other malicious software. To protect yourself from downloading a virus through a phishing email, you can use a service like Threat protection. This type of tool helps block harmful files and prevents you from opening links or attachments with malicious intent.
It’s also important to recognize phishing emails yourself. That’s why being aware of the signs is essential. For example, most phishing emails include:
- Poor grammar or strange sentence structure
- Unusual or suspicious links
- Urgent requests for personal data
- Slightly altered email addresses that mimic real ones
A good habit is to never click on login links in emails. For example, if you receive an email from your bank saying your password has been compromised and you must change it immediately, don’t click the link. Instead, open your browser, go directly to your bank’s official website, and log in from there.
If there really is a problem, you’ll see a notification in your account. Or, if you’re unsure, just call your bank directly.
6. Limit What You Share On Social Media
Since the rise of social media, it has never been easier to find someone’s personal information. Many people share everything, their names, jobs, addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, or even the name of their pet. You might not think much of it, but hackers can do a lot more with this data than you may realize. They can use it for targeted attacks or to see when you’re on vacation.
With all this information, hackers can begin to build an online profile of you. This digital footprint can be used to open loans or make online purchases in your name using services like Buy Now, Pay Later. It might seem harmless, but it comes with serious risks.
This is especially true for parents. It’s understandable that you want to share your children’s accomplishments online, but sometimes you might be revealing more than you intend. Children typically have clean credit histories, making them attractive targets for identity thieves who want to open accounts or create false charges in their name.
Of course, it’s okay to share parts of your life on social media, but you don’t have to share everything. Always think before you post, and only allow people to follow you if you know and trust them.
7. Protect Data Offline
Having your information online is often very convenient, but it’s not always the safest option. Some types of data are simply better kept offline whenever possible. Think of things like your Social Security number, PIN codes, tax documents, or other important records.
While there are secure options like NordLocker to store your documents online with encryption, keeping them in a safe at home on paper can often be even more secure, especially against hacking or data breaches.
8. Monitor Your Bank And Credit Statements
Hackers are often after your money, which is why unusual financial activity is usually one of the first signs that you’ve become a victim of identity theft. It’s important to regularly monitor your bank and credit card statements. If you notice any suspicious transactions, you can take immediate action. For example, you can block your card or account to prevent further theft, and change your passwords on any accounts that may have been compromised.
9. Use Security Software And Keep It Updated
In most cases, when identity theft happens, it’s due to human error. Security software is extremely important, even if you think it won’t happen to you. That’s what millions of people thought before they got hacked or had their identity stolen and their money drained.
Protecting yourself against identity theft isn’t optional anymore, it’s a must.
To build a solid foundation of digital security, you’ll need the tools I discussed earlier, and to complete it all, antivirus or anti-malware software. This ensures you don’t accidentally visit unsafe websites or download a virus onto your device. Because if malware gets in, all your other safety measures could be rendered useless.
Therefore, to fully protect yourself from identity theft online, you should ideally have:
- A VPN
- A password manager
- Antivirus or anti-malware
- Dark web monitoring
You can either choose different brands for each tool or go for an all in one package like NordVPN Prime, which includes all of these essential tools in one subscription.
Getting your services from different providers is absolutely fine too, as long as they’re trusted companies that regularly update their software. If the software isn’t kept up to date, it won’t offer the best protection against new vulnerabilities that hackers might exploit.
My personal go to recommendation for people who don’t want to spend hours comparing providers or pay extreme amounts of money is Surfshark or NordVPN. Both offer complete plans with everything you need to protect your identity.
This makes it easier to set up and use, while keeping you safe from the many dangers online.
Key Takeaway’s
Despite the fear of becoming a victim of identity theft, there’s no need to panic, as long as you take the right precautions. If you ignore these tips and don’t use any protective software, then yes, you’re putting yourself at risk.
Nowadays, digital security tools are easier to use than ever and well worth the investment compared to the potential costs of identity theft, like financial loss, fraud committed in your name, or other malicious consequences.
Stay alert when receiving emails or text messages, and make sure to use reliable security software to reduce the risk. Without it, you’ll be a much easier target.
