The world is always changing, and with it, so is the technology and the internet. Things like identity theft were not so commonplace even twenty years ago, and now it can be simpler than ever for someone to take out a high-interest loan in your name, for example. Only simple, though, if you are not taking steps to make a difference and protect yourself online.
Any scam or scheme that involves taking some of your information that is then used without permission to commit a crime, is identity theft and something needs to be done about it. With so many of us using the internet both at home and for work, we need to double check the steps that we are taking to make sure that we are as safe as possible. So with all of that in mind, here are some important steps to take to make sure that you are staying as safe online as you can be.
Protect Your Computer and Phone
There are many different programs or software that we can use to make sure that we keep ourselves safe when using them, especially when using them online. Software like Identity Guard can help to block malicious files and sites, as well as monitor what we do. There are various programs out there, but looking out for things like an Identity Guard review can give you an idea about what they are used for. One important thing that a lot of people forget about is making sure that our smartphones are protected as well. They use the internet as well, so need the same protection as we use for our computers.
Check Credit Score
Checking your credit score regularly can be a good way to check if anything has been taken out in your name, such as a high-interest loan. You aren’t going to be notified, as the money isn’t going to land in your account. So that is one of the only ways that you can know if there is a loan taken out but ‘you’ve’ missed payments on, unless the criminal gives your address details. Check all statements too as you can see what cards are used and what debt is in your name. Check it closely and check it regularly and it can help you to spot and deal with anything that is untoward.
Use Secure Sites
The internet is changing and it can be hard to keep up with it all from time to time. But, there are things that you can do to help yourself. If you are using a site that is a secure one (such as having the padlock icon in the address bar and has https at the start of the URL, rather than just http), then it means that it is a protected site. If you buy something from an unsecured site, then you never know if your card details are being copied or accessed.
These are some small and simple steps, but they can make a difference to your safety online. If you run a small business then these are steps of paramount importance to check as well.
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