In our ever-expanding online world, identity theft has become a constant threat. In the wrong hands, your identity information can be used to open new accounts, file false insurance claims, or ruin your credit, all of which can have lasting effects – such as an inability to pass background checks for job opportunities, or credit checks for apartment rentals.
When it comes to your business, a cyber attack could instantly threaten your operations. Hackers may gain access to your company files, putting you— as well as all of your contacts and clients— at risk.
Because of hacks and phishing schemes in recent years, it is quite possible that your information is already somewhere on the web. But there are ways to protect yourself.
- Order a copy of your credit report every few months and keep an eye out for unfamiliar accounts or fraudulent activity.
- Take advantage of transaction alerts from your banks. The sooner that you notice unfamiliar charges, the easier it is to reverse the damage.
- Pay special attention to creating strong passwords, as that is the base-line protection for your accounts. Do not use obvious passwords such as “123456” or reuse passwords from site to site.
- Instead of clicking links inside of emails, manually type the web address into your browser.
- Avoid opening email attachments if you were not expecting them.
- Think about what you’re sharing on social media—many answers to security questions can be gleaned from your social media profiles.
- Consider purchasing identity theft insurance for yourself or cyber liability insurance for your business, so that you are protected in the event that you do experience a cyber-attack.
