With the use of digital data – we expose ourselves to digital identity theft. And it is not just your financial information. Through a couple of (fairly) easy questions a hacker can access your email. And it not just your email they now have access too, think off how often you have had to retrieve your security password for an account and they sent the link to your email. A password can be just as valuable as a financial account number to a hacker.
HOW MANY TIMES HAS YOUR DIGITAL DATA BEEN EXPOSED?
My corporate credit card number was stolen this week. All is okay, it was a card that only gets used for business expenses and the credit company is issuing me a new number and dealing with the fraudulent charges themselves. Somehow the thief was able to create a new card using my card number. Not total sure how that works, but it happened. That kind of vulnerability got me thinking, time to beef up my own security…
- Change your passwords. If you have been using the same passwords for ‘years’ it is time to upgrade. When you are creating your password think bank security – strong and unique.
There are password managers out there. Some store your passwords in a digital safe. Some help you manage your logins across devices.
LEARN ABOUT TWO FACTOR AUTHENTICATION
2. Monitor your accounts online and off line. Be sure to monitor your account statements. Set up text messaging alerts for high risk accounts.
I personally purchase identify theft monitoring systems. I’ve had my house broken into and my personal laptop stolen. Although the computer itself was password protected. I’m sure if you looked hard enough I had one time downloaded a financial statement of two, and my emails accounts were ‘always’ logged-in.’ I get a monthly updated on an activity that uses my identity, such as credit reports.
ON AN ODD NOTE: A friend of mines knows the passwords to her son’s accounts (he is over 21 and graduating from college this spring). I’m guessing he doesn’t know he is being stalked by his own mother. She has access to his Facebook account, both school and personal emails and uses Apple’s Track My iPhone app regularly to know where he is at all times.
It is probably never safe to allow your device to safe your password or auto login. But I have to admit I do it, who has time to re-enter this information every day. If your device is lost/stolen it only takes accessing the device to enter/access private sites.
So take a couple of minutes this week to reconsider how you create and save your password and account information. And then create your password strategy:
- Create a couple of different passwords to use.
- Use two factor authentication when available.
- Update your contact details on old accounts.
- Delete old accounts not being used.
- Spend some time looking at security applications provided by the products you use today.
Yahoo has a process to create an app password that enables a Second Sign-In Verification. Apple has iCloud Keychain. And there are numerous free apps that provide password management tools.
Now go and create a digitally secure world for yourself.