Protect Your Identity
Protect Your Online Accounts
- Do not allow websites to store personal information such as name, addresses, and credit card data if not required.
- Never give out personal information to websites that you don’t trust.
- Limit what you share on social media that could be used by someone to impersonate you over the phone or online.
- Use a secure password strategy:
- Use strong passwords that are not based on dictionary words.
- For a secure, but easy to remember password, try using a passphrase. An example would be “Flowers bloom in the spring.”
- The longer the password the better. A minimum of 12 characters is best.
- Do not reuse the same password for multiple websites.
- Never write down passwords or other sensitive information. Use a password manager instead.
- Change passwords to sensitive accounts on a regular basis.
- Always lock your screen when leaving your computer alone to prevent unauthorized access.
- Sign out of any online accounts when you are finished using them.
Protect Against Identity Theft
- If you are asked for Personally Identifiable Information (PII) on a website or form, ask if it is really necessary.
- Check your credit reports on a regular basis for irregularities. The government allows you to access your credit report three times a year for free from https://www.annualcreditreport.com.
- Consider identity theft insurance policies that can be added to your homeowners or renters insurance policy. These policies can assist in the case of a full-blown identity theft.
- If you believe you are a victim of identity theft:
- Place a fraud alert with one of the three credit reporting agencies.
- Retrieve your credit report immediately to review your account history.
- Create an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
- Place a fraud alert with one of the three credit reporting agencies.