Watch what you share online to avoid identity theft
Identity theft is becoming more common and many are unaware that their identity is stolen until it’s too late. Cybercriminals can source your personal information via a hack on your devices or obtain this information if available on the Dark Web. With enough personal information, cybercriminals can wreak havoc and use your identity to open various accounts and access funds.
When it comes to identity theft, cybercriminals are looking out for the following information:
- Name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Driver’s license number
- Mother’s maiden name
- Credit card details
- Tax file number
- Passport information
Protect yourself from identity theft by taking the below precautions:
- Set social media settings to private. To ensure that any posts or photos you share online are seen by those you know
- Review what you share online. This includes any photos that can contain personal information or reveal your location as these details can be used for security questions for various online accounts.
- Never accept a friend request from a stranger
- Don’t enter any personal details into websites you are not familiar with.
- Update your personal details on an organisation’s website directly. Some cybercriminals will impersonate organisations and send you messages to update personal details.
- Secure your devices but enabling two-factor authentication where available.
- Use strong passwords. Including different, unique passwords for each online account.
- Check to see if your personal information has ended up on the Dark Web with ID Security, available as part of Trend Micro Device Security Ultimate. It will notify you if your data has been leaked onto the Dark Web so that you can take immediate action to protect your accounts.
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