Cyber-attacks are a growing problem for everyone. In just one year, the number of data breaches has risen from 24 to 60, comprising 888 million records. Identity thieves have become so sophisticated that they can steal your identity in a matter of seconds. It’s important to know the best ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from identity theft. Here is a guide on how to go about finding the best identity theft protection services.
What are Identity Theft Protection Services?
Identity theft protection services offer a variety of tools and resources to help you protect your (and your family’s) identity. When it comes to data breaches, the best form of prevention is a defense in depth. This means relying on different layers of security from different sources.
How to Protect Yourself from ID Theft
Identity theft can happen in a variety of ways. It could be through your credit card number while shopping online, your email account getting hacked, or even while walking down the street and having your phone stolen. There are many ways identity thieves can steal your personal information and all of them should be taken seriously. You never know when you might become a victim of identity theft, so it’s important to protect yourself in every way. One way to do that is by using services that offer identity theft protection.
This list will show you some common ways to protect yourself from cyber-attacks and what you can do to prevent identity theft:
- Strong passwords
- Stay informed about data breach alerts
- Install anti-malware software
- Use two-factor authentication when possible
- Invest in a credit monitoring service
Credit Monitoring
Credit monitoring involves having professionals keep track of your credit score for any changes. With identity theft protection services, you can have single-bureau credit monitoring or tri-bureau credit monitoring. They look for any changes with your credit, such as applications for credit cards or loans. If you’d rather monitor your credit on your own, you can get a free report from each of the three major bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Identity Theft Monitoring
Identity theft monitoring slightly differs from credit monitoring in that this type of monitoring focuses on fraudulent use of your personal information. With identity theft monitoring, professionals look for suspicious activity with the use of your name, address, social security number, and additional information. There are additional types of identity monitoring including dark web monitoring, change of address monitoring, public records, and social media monitoring. In the event that your personal information is stolen or compromised, you can get assistance with recovery.
What Is Identity Theft Recovery?
Identity theft recovery involves having counselors or case managers work with you to prevent further damage. Generally, some providers offer dedicated assistance for your case. These professionals help you to complete paperwork, contact your creditors, and work through the dispute process.
The Final Word on Identity Theft Protection Services
In today’s world, identity theft is a major problem. It can ruin so many things that you have set up in your future assets. So In order to protect yourself from this growing threat, never forget to apply these tips and tricks. Always have strong passwords on all devices and accounts; create long and complicated passwords that include numbers, letters, and special characters. Turn on 2-factor authentication when possible and keep personal information private by not sharing it with anyone. Use a credit monitoring service, like the ones mentioned above. Monitor all financial activity regularly and commit to checking your credit report for errors or misuse.
It is important to know how to protect yourself from identity theft. If you want to protect yourself from becoming an identity theft victim, there are many options out there today. But with the right plan in place, you can rest assured knowing that something will be done if your personal information is compromised or stolen.