Anyone can clean simple things. Delete apps you never need, unsubscribe from newsletters you definitely haven’t read, and maybe reduce the size of your inbox. This is all well and good, but another point worth looking into is your security settings.
It hasn’t collected dust in years, has it?
The past twelve months have been one Data breach festival AND technologically advanced scams. Even if nothing strange has happened to you (yet), your information is already circulating in enough places to start your visit.
Here’s the good news: you don’t need to change your lifestyle to overcome this situation. Some specific measures can make your digital life safer. We’ll cover the basics, like fixing password habits you’ve been avoiding, changing passwords so you don’t have to guess which one you used last, freezing your credit, locking your devices, and how to respond when something goes wrong.
How to start the security check.
Optimize your passwords and MFA
Start the new year by laying the groundwork. The first thing you want to do is Stop reusing the same password on different accounts. It’s a big risk. When one of these services is hacked, attackers regularly test your password against your email address, bank address, and whatever else they can find.
Use long passphrases instead of short passwords that are easy to crack. A collection of random letters, numbers and symbols totaling at least 16 characters is much harder to crack than password 1234. A password of 16 characters It will take a billion years to solve thisaccording to our favorite The password manager, bit ward. By comparison, passwords with eight characters or less won’t last even for a few hours. It also enables multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your key accounts, which blocks most unauthorized attempts even if someone gets your password.
If you don’t want to handle all of this manually, use a password manager. Create strong, unique connections for any website and store them in one place, an encrypted vault. Don’t forget your master password.
The best time to take this step was several years ago. The next best time is now. And make sure you get reminders every two months to verify your passwords. Regular audits keep your accounts healthier and reduce the risk of an avoidable breach.
Hit the decks with hotkeys
Access key It’s a relatively new technology that eliminates the part of security that most people don’t like. You don’t have to remember passwords or guess which one you used last; all you need is a PIN code, a security key or biometrics such as facial recognition. Your device has an encryption key that proves you’re logged in. The key never leaves your phone or computer.
They are more secure than passwords because they cannot trick you into sharing them. Furthermore, they are not stored on company servers pending disclosure. And since you need the device and your fingerprint, face or PIN, they work like an MFA without any additional steps.
Most major platforms now support passwords. Google uses themMany apps have adopted them, and current versions of iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and modern browsers also support them. And every year more and more services expand their support.
A good New Year’s project is to set up your first passwords on the devices you actually own and control. This is a relatively simple update that is more secure than passwords and removes some of the obstacles mentioned above.
Also, take a moment to review any passwords you may have already configured. If anything is associated with a lost or shared drive, delete it. Only the devices you hold in your hands, and only your hands, should have this access.
Freeze your credit against thieves
A credit freeze It’s a simple way to stop one of the most common forms of identity theft. If your credit is frozen, lenders won’t be able to open new accounts in your name until you tell them otherwise. This prevents someone from using your information to create loans or credit cards that you never applied for.
You don’t have to wait to be notified of a breach or theft of your identity. The reality is as follows Intrusions into personal data occur all the timeand freezing is one of the few tools that can prevent relapse.
To initiate a credit freeze, you must personally visit each of the major credit reporting agencies. Equifax, Expert AND TransUnion They all have their own freezing system and you need to activate all three. It’s free and stays in place until you remove it.
If you’re applying for a loan, job, home or insurance, you can temporarily unlock it, verify it and then block it again.
Dear parents, think about your children too. A child’s credit report can be misused for years before anyone notices. Freezing early eliminates this risk and keeps the file clean until you need it later.
Add fraud alerts and monitoring
A scam alert This is a good way to force lenders to slow down and check if it is really you who is applying for a new loan. If the message is in your file, they need to verify your identity before approving anything. It’s not a perfect barrier, but it makes a quick bluff much more difficult.
There is three versions of these warnings. The first warning lasts for one year and is intended for anyone who believes their information is being circulated. The extended call has a duration of seven years and is reserved for interested parties and interested parties who have submitted a claim. HE notification of active duty is designed for service members who are away from home and need something in place during deployment.
Simply contact a credit reporting agency to create a fraud alert. This bureau must notify the other two so that the notice appears on all of your credit reports.
However, a fraud alert is not a substitute for a full credit freeze. This does not block access to your credit report and lenders can still see it. But if you’re applying for credit or other services and want protection without having to freeze and freeze your credit again, this is an easier option.
By the way, there are also soldiers and members of the National Guard. Get access to free credit monitoring. This adds an extra layer of warning if someone starts snooping on your financial identity while you’re away.
Run a quick privacy check on your devices and accounts
Good device hygiene is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of an attack. So start with the basics. Lock your phone and computer with a secure PIN or biometric code and make sure auto-lock and encryption are enabled. If someone gets hold of your device, you want to give them access.
Next, Be careful with public WiFi. Since websites started using HTTPS to protect data, it is no longer a security risk, but attackers can still hide in the network. Skip it if you can, but if you must use it, Connect via VPN That way, you don’t give your traffic to other people monitoring the network.
Make sure you have early warning systems in place. to relieve Notifications about bank transactionsCredit card activity and links to your important accounts. These messages are usually the first sign that someone is trying to access your sensitive information.
Also, take a moment to think about what you share online. Personal information on social media can give fraudsters the information they need to steal your identity or bypass security checks.
And finally, protect your devices and enable tools like find my or remote wipe. In the event of loss, you need to be able to immediately protect your data and recover the data you need without any uncertainty.
Act quickly if something goes wrong
The first signs of a problem are usually small, like a charge you don’t remember, a credit application you never made, or a connection warning from a device you’ve never had in a place you’ve never been. These are times when you need to stop what you’re doing and pay attention, as they often occur before the real damage begins.
If something goes wrong, act immediately. Call your bank or card issuer and freeze your accounts. Request new account numbers and replacement cards. If you think your phone or computer has been hacked, have it checked and cleaned before connecting it to anything else. Then update the passwords for any accounts that may have been affected.
As soon as you block things, report it. File an application with the FTC Identitytheft.gov OR reportfraud.ftc.govand file a report with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. You can also contact the local police if the situation calls for it. You should also submit a fraud alert to the credit bureaus and consider freezing your credit if you haven’t already.
Be safe out there!
