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Test Your Online Profile: Do You Need A Credit Alert?
Your internet footprint is everywhere and contains a treasure trove of useful information. Check yourself out on Google; how easy is it to find your email, home address and cellphone number? Every website you visit, online account that you own and app you download is tracking your online behavior and possibly sending your personal information to a cyber criminal.
All your online purchases contain your personal information and can give hackers access to your bank account and credit card information. In the wrong hands, this could be used to make fraudulent purchases and even open you up to identity theft. In 2014, about 31.8 million consumers in the U.S. had their credit cards compromised. In 2017, the need for credit protection services that offer a credit alert facility will be more important than ever.
Protection against fraudulent activity
To guarantee that you have impenetrable protection against fraudulent activity you need to know how to protect yourself from identity theft. Here are a few simple guidelines to follow.
1. Secure your devices
Make sure your computer, tablet, smartphones and smart devices are all secured by anti-virus software. Always download the latest updates and have all the security patches installed. This is the first line of defense from attacks by malware, viruses and hackers.
2. Be super vigilant online
Always be wary of emails or websites that solicit confidential and personal information. Don’t open up emails unless they come from a known and reliable source. If friends on social networks send you links and attachments be wary about clicking on them. And most importantly, don’t give away your credit card information just to receive a free service. This sends an immediate credit alert to potential internet thieves and scam businesses.
3. Protect your passwords
One of the simplest ways to get into your accounts is via your passwords. Did you know that in 2016, commonly used passwords were easy to guess ones like “123456”, “qwerty”, and even “password”? It’s recommended that you remember a few master passwords, store other passwords in a plain text file and encrypt this file with 7-Zip, GPG, or a disc encryption software such as BitLocker. Another option is to manage your passwords with password management software.
4. Monitor all your online accounts
Check your online finances thoroughly. If you constantly monitor your accounts, you may be able to spot fraudulent activity yourself, and alert the service provider to freeze your account.
For real peace of mind, you may want to consider a fraud and identity protection service like LogDog. If you download the LogDog protection app for iOS or Android we’ll provide continuous credit monitoring and constantly scan your accounts for unauthorized access. In this way, you can be sure that your data is always safe and has strong identity theft protection.
What is a credit alert service?
If your accounts and devices are continuously monitored with LogDog’s smart technology, they can pick up unusual activity on your routines that may go undetected by a service provider. Looking at multi-service usage data presents the best picture of what is happening on all your accounts. The best service to have is one that will send you a credit alert every time an unusual or suspicious activity occurs on your finances. You can then take action to stop transactions, alert credit card companies and inform your bank. This ensures that your credit score is not adversely affected by anyone trying to take over your account, and your finances are secure.
