Identity theft, often considered a crime of the past, has become increasingly common in today’s digital age. The rise of social media, convenient public Wi-Fi, online shopping, and digital financial transactions provides a vast web of interconnected information, allowing hackers to steal identities with alarming ease. From financial theft to impersonation, thoroughly understanding identity theft is the first step in protecting yourself and your assets.
Understanding Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone gains unauthorized access to personal information, such as social security numbers and banking information. Armed with this sensitive data, criminals have the capability to tarnish reputations, drain bank accounts, and even commit crimes under your name.
The Impact of Socially Shared Information
Socially Shared Information includes but is not limited to photos, videos, and website links that are shared with friends and followers via social media platforms. As social media has become an integral part of our lives, this has led to the desire to share moments with our friends and family. It is difficult to encourage others not to partake in social media frequently, as most do not think a simple photo or video posted online can lead to identity theft. Cybercriminals have been known to use social media and geo-tagging landmarks as avenues to exploit sensitive information. Seemly innocent details about your personal life can be used to answer security questions or guess passwords. Setting your social media accounts to private adds an extra layer of security from potential perpetrators.
Key Things to Remember to Stay Ahead of Identity Theft
Although there is no foolproof way to avoid being a victim of identity theft, there are methods to make yourself a difficult target. Quran, Information Security Analyst III at Knowledge Services shared the following key tips for remaining secure and staying ahead of identity theft.
- Do not overshare on social media
- Be strict on your social media presence and privacy
- Regularly shred old mail, documents, and other paperwork
- Monitor bank statements regularly to ensure all transactions are recognizable
- Turn off location tags on shared media
- Be aware of giving out specific details in your posts, photos, and videos
- Protect your devices with routine screen locks and passwords
- Adopt a post-trip sharing method
- Use a digital wallet as contactless transactions are safer
- Freeze your credit when you are not actively utilizing your credit
Remain Secure and Protected
Identity theft has evolved into a sophisticated and technologically driven threat, making it more crucial than ever to safeguard our identities. The interconnectedness of our online presence has provided cybercriminals with unprecedented access to our personal information. By recognizing identity theft risks and taking proactive security measures, people can make themselves difficult targets. From adjusting privacy settings to regularly monitoring financial accounts, strong security practices can go a long way in protecting our own identities and contributing to a safer online community.
