7 Tips to Protect Your Identity
February 3, 2020This is a sponsored post written by me for Identity Guard. All opinions are mine alone. #IdentityGuard
Our identity is something many of us take for granted most of the time… that is, until something shakes our sense of security. Maybe there’s a big data breach on the nightly news or maybe there’s an unexplained charge on the last credit card bill. In today’s world, our digital & financial identity are at constant risk and that’s why it’s important to secure constant protection. Keep reading for 7 practical tips you can implement today to protect your identity, featuring Identity Guard.
1. Get identity theft protection.
When it comes to safeguarding one’s identity, it’s smart to stick with the pros. Founded by Intersections Inc., Identity Guard is a leader in the field and is constantly evolving to keep up with the changing landscape of the industry.
With features that include constant scanning and quick alerts, Identity Guard is designed to put the power back in the consumer’s hands – and peace of mind back in their hearts.
Identity Guard has partnered with the world’s most recognizable artificial intelligence brand, IBM® Watson™, in order to deliver a better identity protection service. Together, they are able to detect threats more effectively and offer customized advice to consumers.
There are a number of plans available so it’s wise to pause & think about why you are seeking identity protection. Did someone open a credit card in your name? Then look for a plan with credit monitoring. Was your info exposed in a data breach? Then look for a plan with dark web scanning. Identity Guard makes it so easy to compare the various plans offered so the consumer can be well informed and make the right choice.
Did you know that one’s identity isn’t just one’s social security number? It’s actually a complex compilation of hundreds of digital pieces of data shared on a daily basis. If a threat is detected on any of these pieces of data, Identity Guard will pair you up with a personal case manager from start to finish. There’s also a $1 million insurance policy** with stolen fund reimbursement.
I’ve always been very cautious about not giving my social security number out unnecessarily. I’ve always tried to keep my important financial documents locked & secured. The service offered by Identity Guard is really a wonderful complement to my financial picture.
If you’ve been concerned about the security of your identity, be sure to check out the various plans available at Identity Guard.
2. Protect your social security number.
One’s social security number is a very private, important part of one’s identity. Safeguard the number and don’t give it out to just anyone that asks for it. Never carry your social security card in your wallet or purse. Keep it secured inside a locked drawer or cabinet in your home.
3. Use secure passwords.
From email accounts to online banking accounts, a secure password is essential to keep your information safe and protected. Use strong passwords that are a combination of lower case letters, upper case letters, numbers and special characters. Be sure to change these passwords regularly too.
4. Take inventory of your wallet often.
Remove cards that are rarely used and cancel cards that are no longer needed. Take a photocopy of everything in your wallet (include both sides of each card or document in your wallet.) Store all these photocopies inside a dedicated folder. If your wallet ever gets stolen or lost, you can consult this folder as a convenient resource to cancel credit cards, request replacements, etc.
5. Pay attention to website security.
If you are making a purchase online or giving out any personal information whatsoever, make sure the web page URL contains https in the address bar. Alternatively, just look for a little padlock symbol to indicate that the site is secure. This means that your information will be encrypted, protecting it from potential hackers. Use a firewall and virus & spyware protection on your home computer to keep your digital information safe.
6. Shred documents.
Shred all documents with personal information (address, account numbers, etc.) using a cross-cut shredder so no trace of the original document can be deciphered. Don’t throw away documents with personal information on them without shredding them first.
7. Lock Your Documents.
If you have a document that you need to keep (to file taxes, for example,) store the document inside a locked filing cabinet and keep the key hidden. If you don’t have room for a full filing cabinet, even a locked caddy will get the job done. Documents that should be secured include birth certificates, tax forms, Social Security cards, pay stubs, and medical paperwork.
I hope these tips have inspired you to take some basic steps to protect your identity. Do you follow any of these tips? Would you like to experience the peace of mind offered by Identity Guard?
** Identity Theft Insurance underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group‚ Inc. The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms‚ conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for terms‚ conditions‚ and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.
Such an important topic because once you are stolen you are sunk. These are smart ideas we all should follow.
100% true! It’s so much better to be proactive about this!
Thanks for the helpful hints. Even so, these criminals have gotten so good, they still get around these things, I had a charge and they told me the way the charge hit, the actual card was in another state. It wasn’t, it was a brand new account and the new card had just been sent to me. Thankfully, they didn’t hold me responsible.
Wow that’s scary. That’s why it’s so important to team up with Identity Guard – they monitor for signs of fraud around the clock!
My credit card company provides a free, monthly credit update that includes watching my email address for dark web activity. I change passwords often now, since it’s so easy to find things online. Keeping up with them is another story. I forget all the time! LOL
This is something we all need to be aware of and make sure we try and stay on top of. There are so many different ways people can steal our identity now and we are definitely all vulnerable.
I love these tips, I was a victim of identity theft. I still deal with it 12 years later.
Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear that.
Oh this is good advice! I definitely want to make sure I’m protected. Identity theft can really throw a wrench into your plans.
We’ve had our credit card number stolen before and what a headache! Adding in extra security measures is never a bad idea. I’d never want to have to go through the headache of sorting out that mess again!
So grateful for services like Identity Guard that give me peace of mind!
This is a really informative, I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to implement your tips.
I always worry about this. I’ll keep your tips in mind for sure. I try to be as safe with my info online as I possibly can.
This is such an important thing that my husband and I take very seriously. I love these smart tips to help bolster our protection even more.
SO MUCH good enough. Cant be safe enough nowadays with your information
It’s seriously a must-have for anyone concerned about the safety of their identity!!
These identity protection tips are a great reminder! Thank you for this. In our ever changing world and the growth of new technology, we need to be more aware about the dangers of being lax in safeguarding our personal information.
Great tips. I plan to share this post with some HS students who are starting out. We need to get the word out to these youngsters about protecting their personal identity.
Yes, it’s so important to educate the youth about these topics.
I never really given much thought about this one. Especially getting identity theft protection. I will definitely read more about this and apply this one on me.
This is definitely a great reminder as so many get their identities stolen each year. I’ll have to check into this service to see if its a good fit for me.
Great idea! Let me know how you like it.
The online world is so scary as there are lots of threats. It’s important to be safe and secured. I will check this out!
Such great tips! We check our bank account and credit card transactions daily too, so we’d be on top of things.
Protecting your identity has never been more important. People can be pretty scummy and really ruin your life with this.
My ex husband was the victim of identity theft. Fortunately we caught it quickly. I take a lot of precautions and I’m taking steps to freeze my daughter’s social security number until she’s ready to use it.