Private info compromised online? Check out tips from SIUE professor to hamper hackers
T-Mobile announced in January data from 37 million customers had been breached, and it’s far from the only company to experience hacking issues. Nearly 42 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2021, according to an AARP report.
While data breaches and identity theft are all too common, there are steps you can take to best protect your information, and there are also steps to take after your identity has been stolen.
Tim Jacks, associate professor and undergraduate program director in the Department of Computer Management & Information Systems at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, gave the News-Democrat several cybersecurity tips to help consumers protect their information. Here’s what to know.
How to practice good ‘cyber hygiene’
Jacks’ first tip to protecting your information is to create long, strong passwords and change them every few months. If you don’t want to change your passwords frequently, you could opt for a password manager.
Avoid choosing passwords that are easy to hack, such as your birthday or your pet’s name. Choose unique passwords for each of your accounts.
In addition to creating a strong password, Jacks recommended using two-factor authentication when available.
“That’s not to say that two-factor authentication will be a 100 percent solution, there’s no such thing as 100 percent solution, but it greatly increases your safety,” Jacks said.
It’s also important to keep your devices up to date. Allowing automatic updates and listening to reboot prompts can be helpful, as can checking to ensure your apps are up to date. Securing your wifi router also protects your information.
The most common way people fall victim to identity theft is through clicking fraudulent links through email, Jacks said. When you click a bad link, all sorts of personal information is at stake, including your Social Security number, financial account logins and health care information.
If you get an email from an address you don’t recognize, especially one with obvious grammar mistakes, it may be a scam.
There are two main red flags that signal scams, Jacks said: an appeal to urgency and an appeal to authority. When a message includes veiled threats or urges you to act immediately, it’s a sign to take a closer look.
Another best practice is to avoid putting your taxes off and file early instead, Jacks said.
“A lot of identity theft happens this time of year because somebody gets all of your contact information, enough to fill out a tax return on your part, because they want to get your tax refund,” Jacks said. “I’ve known several people that have fallen victim to this, and it’s very difficult to get out of.”
If someone has fraudulently filed a tax return on your behalf, the Internal Revenue Service will not immediately allow you to refile, Jacks continued, and it’s not a quick or easy process to remedy.
What can you do if your identity has been stolen?
If you’ve been the victim of identity theft, you can report it online at IdentityTheft.gov or by phone at 1-877-438-4338.
The Federal Trade Commission’s identity theft website advises people to take the following steps once they learn their information has been stolen:
Call the companies where you know the fraud occurred. Ask them to close or freeze the accounts and change the logins, passwords and PINS for your accounts.
Place a free, one-year fraud alert by contacting Experian, TransUnion or Equifax and get your credit report.
Report the identity theft to the FTC.
You could also file a report with your local police department.
