Apart from malware and data breaches, identity theft is the most used method by cybercriminals to obtain data and funds from unsuspecting victims illegally. With this method, cybercriminals gain access to your financial accounts, assume your position in all your socially registered platforms – some even attend events and services in your identity.
Perhaps you’ve already fallen victim of identity theft in the past, and if you haven’t already, you wouldn’t want to have a taste of it. Below are practices that will help you keep your online data safe and sound, away from identity thieves.
时刻警惕网络钓鱼网站
Phishing sites always appear to be legitimate, but most of them are looking to harvest your data or drop malware to your device. They ask you to input your personal information like username, password – some will even ask for your social security number, address, credit card number, insurance data as well as a driving license.
要知道，提出的请求可能看起来很正常，就像申请保险或开设银行账户一样。如果您对某个网站有疑问，请务必通过查看 HTTPS 详情来检查该网站的证书是否有效。此外，您还可以访问其联系页面，尝试了解其物理位置的有效性。
始终为每个在线账户使用唯一的密码
Online thieves will always look out for your passwords to have access to your data. It’s advisable to use the standard password practices when coming up with a password for your account. They include using strong passwords that are unique to each account. Additionally, use good password managing tool to store your passcodes and passwords safely.
避免提供过多个人信息
Giving out too much personal information on your social media account is a risky affair. Hackers and phishers will always look up for your online information whenever they make you their target. While social media is a convenient platform where you can interact with the rest of the world, be careful of third-party apps which always send links on both your timeline and direct messages (DMs). Most of these links will ask for your data once you open them, and you will end up compromising your identity.
记录包括信用卡在内的财务报表
记录包括信用卡在内的财务报表掌握自己的财务信息是打击身份盗窃和避免欺诈的关键。很可能已经有人掌握了你的财务信息，并计划加以利用。养成索取财务报表的习惯，以便随时查看。如果您的信用卡有任何可疑的交易，请向有关方面求证。如果发现您的账户已被泄露，请立即关闭您的账户，然后要求重新开设一个账户。
始终使用 VPN
In as much as you practice the above safety precautions, always use a VPN to help keep your online data more secure and private. A VPN does this by keeping you anonymous when surfing online. It achieves this by encrypting your data, thus making it hard for phishers and stalkers to get to you. Additionally, a strong VPN will hide your physical location by masking your IP address.
