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Identity theft is a prevalent issue in todays digital world. When a malicious actor gains someones personal information, it can wreak havoc on the targets life. Identity theft occurs when a hacker gains entry to a database and copies a persons social security number, address, and credit data (Wempen). Identity theft can happen to anyone and it is important to be vigilant about the information given out online and even in person. Personal information should only be given out to trusted and secure websites and companies and even then, sometimes that is not enough to prevent identity theft.
Types of Identity Theft
Identity theft is everywhere. From cyber identity theft to in-person theft, theft can occur anywhere you are in person or online. Some of the common types of identity theft include financial identity theft, tax identity theft, and medical identity theft. Financial identity theft is the most common type of theft and is when someone uses another person’s information for financial gain. For instance, a fraudster may use your bank account or credit card numbers to steal money or make purchases or use your Social Security number to open a new credit card (Equifax). Tax identity theft is when someone uses information gained in malicious ways to steal your tax refunds by submitting a tax return to get that refund. Medical identity theft occurs when a thief uses your personal information to visit the doctor.
How to Prevent Identity Theft
Despite identity theft being so widespread in todays society, there are steps anyone can take to help prevent identity theft. Some of the ways include being vigilant and aware of how you share your information, checking on your personal information, such as credit checks and monitors, and using strong passwords. Being vigilant includes asking questions when someone is requesting your personal information, such as a social security number. Ask these questions before you give them your Social Security number: Why do you need it? How will you protect it? Can you use a different identifier? Can you use just the last four digits of my Social Security number? (Federal Trade Commission). Another way to prevent theft is to regularly check your credit. This can be a great way to spot unauthorized uses of your credit. There are a few ways to check your credit including checking yourself with many websites, some free and some for a fee, and paying for a service to monitor your credit for you. Finally, it is important to always use strong passwords. The stronger the password, the harder it is for hackers to gain entry into accounts. Adding two-factor authentication adds another layer of security to an already strong password. By adding two-factor authentication the hacker may know a password, but they cannot gain entry into accounts because two-factor authentication sends a notification or includes another, separate login to log into the account.
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