Protecting Your Information in a World of Data Breaches | Richard Banks & Associates, P.C.
The frequency of data breaches continues to increase each year, which means the likelihood of having your information leaked or stolen online is also increasing.
In a world where it seems like companies are having digital security breaches monthly, you may have become less than concerned. Unfortunately, you do need to be concerned about your information that could be swirling around on the web, as it can affect many areas of your life—including your finances.
Stolen Personal Information Can Hurt You
Depending on the data breach, much of your personal information could end up in the wrong hands online.
This includes:
- Social security number
- Credit card numbers
- Debit card numbers
- CVV numbers
- PIN numbers
- Banking information
- Usernames and passwords
When this information is accessed by hackers, it is often sold on the dark web. From there, your information can be used in ways that could directly harm your credit and finances.
The person with your info could open new lines of credit, drain money from a bank account or make purchases with your credit/debit card numbers. This is an absolute nightmare and all-too-common scenario.
How to Protect Your Information Online
The only foolproof way to protect your information online is by not putting it there, but in today’s tech-driven online world, that is rarely an option.
Instead of shunning the internet and technology, you can simply do some of the following things:
1. Have your devices protected by passcodes. You won’t intentionally set out to lose your smartphone, but if you do, it will be good to know that your email, banking accounts and social media accounts will not be accessible due to the code needed to use the device.
2. Don’t use the same login credentials for all your accounts. It may be tempting to save time and brain power by having the same login and password for all online accounts, but this is opening you up for a can of worms if a data breach happens. You should be creating strong and unique passwords for each account, as this can deter hackers.
3. Stop oversharing on social media. Watch the photos you put up, as they could have sensitive information in the background or could even be a photo of said sensitive information. Make sure you have the right privacy settings on, too!
4. Watch out for free Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi can be great, but you should hold off on logging into a bank account or entering a credit card number while using free internet. It is often not secured and could give others using it the opportunity to “eavesdrop” on your activity online.
5. Close old, unused accounts. Things like old email addresses that are no longer used and dating apps that you deleted but did not deactivate could still be hacked into and used without your knowledge. Keep the catfishers away from your identity and deactivate or close all unused accounts.
If your financial situation has entered perilous waters without the help of hackers, know that Richard Banks & Associates is here to discuss options and assist you with the bankruptcy process.