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People under 60 are losing it online. And by it, I mean money, due to digital identity theft.
In its simplest form, your digital identity consists of a set of attributes that can be traced back to you and your identity. That can range from photos you post online to online shopping accounts, email accounts, telephone numbers, bank accounts, and your tax ID.
In this way, your digital identity is like dozens upon dozens of puzzle pieces made up of different accounts, ID numbers, and so forth. When put together, they create a picture of you. And that’s why those little puzzle pieces of your identity are such attractive targets for hackers. If they get the right combination of them, you can end up a victim of theft or fraud.
In this article, we’ll look into the kinds of information that include your digital identity, tactics to protect you from identity theft, signs that your identity has been stolen, and the steps to take to reclaim your identity.
Your digital identity is much more comprehensive than a simple username or password. Think of it as your complete digital existence, a unique combination of your information, behaviors, and digital traces that collectively represent who you are online. Unlike a single account that you create for one website, your digital identity encompasses every piece of data connected to you across the entire digital landscape.
The more aware you are of what makes up your digital identity, the better equipped you’ll be to keep those puzzle pieces secure and out of the wrong hands.
Your digital identity is constantly at work in ways you don’t notice. Every time you log in to your bank, check your medical records, book a flight, or shop online, your digital identity verifies who you are and grants access to the services you need. With that convenience comes responsibility: the more places your identity appears, the more important it becomes to protect it.
Here’s what’s happening: People under 60 were twice as likely to report losing money to online scams, and more than four times more likely to report losing money to an investment scam, and the majority of those losses happened in scams involving some form of cryptocurrency investments.
It’s no surprise that younger adults get targeted this way. They’re far more likely than any other age group to use mobile apps for peer-to-peer payments, transferring money between accounts, depositing checks, and paying bills. In short, there’s a lot of money flowing through the palms of their hands thanks to their phones, as well as their computers.
Protecting yourself from hackers and fraud means safeguarding your digital identity. And that can feel like a significant task, given all the information your digital identity contains. It can be done, though, especially if you think about your identity like a puzzle. A piece here, another piece there, can complete the picture (or complete it just enough) to give a hacker what they need to separate you from your money. Thus, the way to stay safe is to keep those puzzle pieces out of other people’s hands.
As I mentioned, the quickest way to understand what’s happening with your identity is to check your credit report. Identity theft goes beyond money. Crooks will steal identities to rent apartments, access medical services, and even get jobs. Things like that can show up on a credit report, such as when an unknown address shows up in a list of your current and former residences or when a company you’ve never worked for shows up as an employer. If you spot anything strange, track it down right away. Many businesses have fraud departments with procedures in place that can help you clear your name if you find a charge or service wrongfully billed under your name.
Other signs are far more obvious. You may find collection agencies calling or even see tax notices appearing in your mailbox (yikes). Clearly, cases like those are telltale signs that something is really wrong. In that case, report it right away:
Likewise, many nations offer similar government services. A quick search will point you in the right direction.
Another step you can take is to ask each credit bureau to freeze your credit, which prevents crooks from using your personal information to open new lines of credit or accounts in your name. Fraud alerts offer another line of protection for you as well.
It’s actually not that tough. With a few new habits and a couple of apps to help you out, you can protect yourself from the headaches and flat-out pain of fraud. Here’s a list of straightforward things that you can get started on right away:
Protect yourself by protecting your stuff. Installing and using security software on your computers and phones can help prevent a range of attacks and keep you safer while you surf, bank, and shop online. I should emphasize it again: protect your phone. Only about half of people protect their phones even though they use them to hail rides, order food, send money to friends, and more. Going unprotected on your phone means you’re sending all that money on the internet in a way that’s far, far less safe than if you use online protection.
You hear this one all the time, and for good reason: strong, unique passwords offer one of your best defenses against hackers. Never reuse them (or slight alterations of them) across the different platforms and services you use. Don’t forget to update them regularly (at least every 60 days)! While that sounds like a lot of work, a password manager can keep on top of it all for you. If your platform or service supports two-factor authentication, enable it. It’s an additional layer of security that makes hacking more difficult for cybercriminals.
Updates pop up on our phones and computers nearly every day. Resist the urge to put them off until later. In addition to improvements, updates often include important security fixes. So, when you receive an alert on your device, update the operating system or app. Think of it as adding another line of defense against hackers who are looking to exploit old flaws in your apps.
Social media is a common channel for hackers to harvest personal information because people sometimes share more than they should. With info like your birthday, the name of your first school, your mother’s maiden name, or even the make of your first car, they can answer common security questions that could hack into your accounts. Crank up the privacy settings on your accounts so only friends and family can see your posts—and realize the best defense here is not to post any potentially sensitive info in the first place. Also, steer clear of those “quizzes” that sometimes pop up in your social feeds. Those are other ways that hackers try to gain bits of info that can put your identity at risk.
Even though so many of us have gone paperless with our bills, identity theft by digging through the trash or “dumpster diving” is still a thing. Items such as medical bills, tax documents, and checks may still arrive in your mailbox. You’ll want to dispose of them properly when you’re through with them.
First, invest in a paper shredder. Once you’ve deposited the check or paid the odd bill online, shred it so that any personal or account information on it can’t be read (and can be recycled securely).
Second, if you’re out of town for a bit, have a friend collect your mail or have the post office place a temporary hold on it. That’ll prevent thieves from lifting personal info right from your mailbox while you’re away.
Even if you don’t think there’s a problem, go ahead and check your credit. The issue is that someone could be charging expenses to your name without you even knowing it. Depending on where you live, different credit reporting agencies keep tabs on people’s credit. In the U.S., the big ones are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Also in the U.S., the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires these agencies to provide you with a free credit check at least once every 12 months. Canada, the UK, and other nations likewise offer ways to get a free credit report. Review your options; you may be surprised by what you find.
Do an inventory of your online presence by searching for your name, email addresses, and phone numbers across major search engines and social platforms. Review what information appears publicly on your social media accounts, professional profiles, and any other online accounts. This is your chance to remove the information that’s not relevant to the account. The FTC recommends conducting these searches regularly to understand what personal information is visible to others online.
Web technology changes so fast that some websites become outdated. If you have accounts on any such website, delete them, especially on platforms that may have obsolete security measures. This reduces the number of places where your personal information could be compromised. If you can’t remember all your accounts, check your email for old account creation confirmations. There might also be tools that identify forgotten accounts across various services.
Data brokers collect and sell your personal information to advertisers and other companies. You can opt out of major data brokers like Acxiom, LexisNexis, and Spokeo by visiting their websites and following their opt-out procedures. The FTC provides guidance on how consumers can limit data-broker activities, though this process requires ongoing effort as new brokers emerge.
Set up Google Alerts for your name and other personal information to track when your data appears online. Consider using identity monitoring services that alert you to potential data breaches involving your information. Regularly check your credit reports and bank statements for unusual activity, as these can be early indicators that your digital footprint has been compromised.
Taking control of your digital footprint requires ongoing attention, but these steps significantly reduce your exposure to identity theft and online privacy violations. Start with the actions that feel most manageable, then gradually work through the complete checklist to build stronger protection for your online presence.
Protecting your digital identity is an ongoing commitment that requires constant vigilance and smart habits. By regularly monitoring your credit reports, using strong authentication methods, maintaining your privacy on social media, keeping your software up to date, and responding promptly to any suspicious activity, you’re building a robust defense against identity theft. With consistency, these protective measures will become your second nature over time.
Safeguarding your identity becomes even easier with the right tools. Consider exploring comprehensive digital identity protection services that monitor your personal information across multiple platforms and alert you to potential threats in real time. With the combination of vigilant habits and reliable protection tools, you can confidently continue with your digital activities knowing your identity is secure.
The post How to Protect Your Digital Identity appeared first on McAfee Blog.
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