Identify theft protection is not as hard as most people think. With simple tips and practices, you can avoid identity theft and make sure your money are not in danger of being stolen by hackers. Here are the most important rules you need to stick to when it comes to protecting your identity online.

Check your bank statements at least once a month and look for strange charges. Even the smallest unauthorized charge can be a red flag as it could signal someone is trying to access your money. If they notice you don’t act on small amounts, the hacker can go one level up and start withdrawing larger amounts.

Keep your card’s names and phone numbers on a hardcopy, so you can easily contact the bank, if your cards are stolen.

Invest in a professional document shredder, which can protect you from cyber attacks. There are many thieves who stalk people’s trash and look for papers which include your personal information and other sensitive data. Once they find the torn papers, they can put them together, like a puzzle. A shredder tears the papers in such way you can’t put them together. Look for a shredder which turns the papers into small pieces, not one which cuts the paper into pieces that can be put back.

Review your credit reports once a year with the main credit report bureaus. This action can reveal if someone opened an account in your name or if there are any suspicious activities on your credit report. You can also use a credit monitoring service, which allows you to check your credit at any time. Most services work with all the three bureaus, providing you with the best protection.

Password protects your phone by using a long and strong password, which can’t be guessed. If someone steals your phone or simply finds it and has the will to check out what information you stored on it, can easily obtain sensitive data. Persons who know you can easily try out lots of passwords, so make sure the password of your phone can’t be guessed.

Keep your sensitive information papers in a hidden safe, where people who enter your house, such as your friends or maid, can’t access them. Most people store their bank papers and other important information in locked cabinets, which can be easily broken by people who enter the house.

Online safety measures are very important for your safety, so make sure all your mobile devices have antivirus software, which is updated frequently. Also encrypt your WiFi and protect it with a strong password and name it as creatively as possible.

If you don’t want to apply for a credit or any other type of loan for some time, you can freeze your credit. This will prevent you from using it, but it will also prevent hackers and thieves from getting credits in your name or conducting any other operations.

Avoid writing checks, as they are an easy way to put your personal information at risk. A check has your name, bank details, account details and many more. Anyone can do a copy of your check and use your information, especially when the check is going to be handled by name people.

Identity theft is a nightmare, but if you are careful and employ all the required offline and online safety measures, your money and your identity are as safe as possible.

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