With data breaches happening to several companies over the past few years, identity theft is something that is on our minds more often than ever. According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft was the number one complaint from Americans in 2014, surpassing even debt collection and imposter scams. Some of the states that have experienced the most identity theft include Florida, Oregon, Missouri, and Georgia.

Although there are services that are more secure than in the past (such as online banking), there’s still a possibility for identity theft to occur. Even if you are careful, there’s no guarantee that you won’t fall victim to it. Those looking to steal your identity can be anyone, whether they decide to lurk behind a computer screen anonymously or are seemingly your best friend that you hang out with every day.
The good news is that it isn’t as common as it sounds and you do have the ability to take the measures necessary to prevent this from occurring. The fact that it can happen regardless does not mean that safe-guarding your information is useless; it can actually help a lot when it comes to prevention. Here are some tips that can help you protect yourself from identity theft.
Log Out
It’s common that we forget to log out of our online accounts, especially because we are often checking them on our smartphones. The problem is, anyone can then come along and get access to your personal information. For example, how many times have you left your phone with someone for a minute?
In that minute that you run to the restroom or wherever you may need to go, that person could be browsing through your info. If you use publicWi-Fi, it’s even easier; the hacker around the corner could gain access to your computer in less than a minute and be rooting through your accounts and posting on your behalf. This is why it’s best to avoid public Wi-Fi spots when your computer is not protected, especially if you are visiting websites that are not encrypted.
An easy way to tell if the website you’re visiting is encrypted or not, is to look at your browser. Does the URL shown start with “http” or “https?” If it shows “https,” it’s a secure website. If it doesn’t include that “s” after “http,” it’s not secure. To get an idea of what a secure website looks like in your browser, it should appear something like this: https://www.suntrust.com/
Of course an encrypted website may prevent you from hackers, but it still won’t prevent you from those who are physically on your phone or computer. Anyone who you allow to hold your smartphone or browse through your computer, will still be able to see your information if you do not log out of your accounts. Many websites log you out automatically after a certain amount of time, but that’s not true for every single one.
An easy solution is just to remember to log out when you’re done.
Monitor Your Bank Statements
Another easy way to protect yourself from identity theft is to monitor your bank statements. Whether it’s your checking account or credit card account, monitor them all. If you do, you’ll be able to notice early on if someone is charging purchases to your account(s).
In the event that this does happen to you, the earlier you notice it’s going on, the better; you’ll be able to report it immediately, rather than when all of your funds have been drained.

Protect Your Devices
Many of us know that having an anti-virus program on hand is a wise choice. However, not everyone knows that there are more options available when it comes to internet security. On top of your anti-virus program, a virtual private network is a good place to start; with this, hackers will no longer be able to identify your IP address, nor will they be able to identify your location.
What a virtual private network, or VPN, does is encrypt your internet traffic. This makes it impossible for hackers to find you, as the VPN is acting on your behalf by “communicating” to the websites for you.Not only does this add security to your devices, but it also will allow you to view censored content, such as blocked websites.
Most VPNs can be purchased as a subscription service for less than $15 per month, making it an affordable and worthwhile investment towards protecting your identity; they’re available for your smartphone too, so you can remain anonymous no matter which device you’re using.
Don’t Be Quick To Share
One of the most basic tips for protecting yourself from identity theft is don’t be so quick to share your personal information with others. Sometimes it may seem harmless, but a lot can be found with just a few pieces of information. Never give out your full name, social security number, address, banking information, or anything of the sort to those who you don’t know very well.
This is a common way people end up having their identity stolen; they share their personal information with people over the internet, or with those who simply should not be asking for it to begin with. For example, it’s common that you will need to share these types of information with your bank, government agencies, your employer, or online retailers (excluding your social security number), but it’s not something that you should share with the gas station clerk, your neighbor, or the cashier ringing your items up at Walmart.
Make Sure You’re Visiting Legitimate Websites
Not everyone knows how to spot a fake website and this can cost them a pretty penny if they can’t. There are online scams flooding the internet and if you unknowingly provide a fake website with your banking information, you may end up with a heavy bill waiting for you, or worse, having your identity stolen. On the bright side, there are some easy ways to check if a website is legitimate, which you can find in this how-to-guide.
Use an Identity Theft Protection Service
There are identity theft protection services that you can sign up for, which will keep an eye out for you by scanning black market sites for stolen info, monitoring your credit, assessing your risk, and providing you with up to $1 million identity theft insurance. A good option is TrustedID, which offers a 14 day free trial and plans as low as $10.42 per month.
Stay Safe
When it something sounds off, it usually is. Make sure you pay attention to the details when it comes to sharing your personal information: who’s asking for it and why do they want or need it? If you’d like a little added bit of protection, consider picking up a paper shredder from your local office store as well.
Paper shredders can typically handle the occasional expired credit card or ID, and it’s best to shred these when you’re done with them. Shredders also come in handy when you need to dispose of any bank statements. By taking heed to the tips above and your own intuition, you’re likely to keep your identity protected.

http://www.techskulz.com/2015/07/how-to-protect-yourself-from-identity.html

I'm Here!
2GB for 2000
1GB for 900 naira..
500mb for 600naira
thats all..
Contact 234 703 839 0544 now!!


Read the Latest Posts

1. Top free AntiVirus for you Android SmartPhones

http://rahmonyz..com/2015/07/top-5-free-anti-virus-for-better.html

How To Increase PC /Laptop Speed
Faster [8 Best Ways]

http://rahmonyz..com/2015/07/how-to-increase-pc-laptop-speed-faster.html#

and Finally,

Enjoy The MTN Free Unlimited
Browsing On Your Android And PC

http://rahmonyz..com/2015/07/enjoy-mtn-free-unlimited-browsing-on.html

Rahmonlee:
I'm Here!
2GB for 2000
1GB for 900 naira..
500mb for 600naira
thats all..
Contact 234 703 839 0544 now!!


Read the Latest Posts

1. Top free AntiVirus for you Android SmartPhones

http://rahmonyz..com/2015/07/top-5-free-anti-virus-for-better.html

How To Increase PC /Laptop Speed
Faster [8 Best Ways]

http://rahmonyz..com/2015/07/how-to-increase-pc-laptop-speed-faster.html#

and Finally,

Enjoy The MTN Free Unlimited
Browsing On Your Android And PC

http://rahmonyz..com/2015/07/enjoy-mtn-free-unlimited-browsing-on.html

Please create your own thread