The internet is fastening many processes of our daily life. We bank online, purchase things online, communicate with each other, work, study, and store personal documents online. But at the same time, each account and each activity performed on the internet opens a window to potential attackers who will try to misappropriate personal information. Identity theft is a significant privacy and security threat, but some stable actions can prevent attacks easily.
What Is Online Identity Theft?
Online identity theft takes place when an attacker gets access to another person's private data without permission. Such information can be a name, email, phone number, password, credit card information, banking information, or any other document information. Attackers will use this information for entering accounts, buying something on behalf of the victim, using someone else's name, or any other purposes.
Victim's losses can include the loss of access to the accounts or privacy violation, as well as spending time and effort proving that something was not done by him/her. Prevention starts from knowing what personal information is being attacked.
How Cybercriminals Steal Personal Information
- Phishing & Impersonation: Email, message, call, or website impersonating an official organization makes efforts to deceive individuals into sharing their credentials or verification code.
- Compromised passwords: If the password is insecure or reused, the criminal will be able to get access to various accounts.
- Malware: Spyware and other malicious software may track the keystrokes that were made on the computer keyboard or steal credentials and any other personal data from the computer.
- Social engineering: The fraudster will try to deceive a person through the use of urgency, threats, curiosity, or by gaining the trust of the user.
- Breaches: Personal data gained from companies and service providers is used for further scams.
- Over-sharing of information online: Social media postings may lead to personal information being exposed.
10 Ways to Prevent Identity Theft Online
1. Have robust and unique passwords
Create a long and strong password or passphrase for each important account of yours. Don’t use personal names, dates of birth, quotes, and any other predictable pattern of symbols. A good password manager will help you to generate and store each unique password safely. Where the use of passkeys is supported, you can take advantage of one.
2. Enable multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) requires more than just a password, for example, an application for generating two-factor authentication codes, a security key, and others. This method can be applied to email, bank account, cloud storage, online shopping and social media accounts if it is possible to do so. Using of authenticator applications and security keys will provide much more security than using SMS verification code.
3. Check the messages carefully before clicking on them.
Be careful when you get some messages or emails which ask your immediate attention. Check the address of the sender and the content of the message.
Also check the links which are given in the message. Be careful if you receive any attachments, typos or request for your passwords and codes to verify your identity.
4. Update devices and applications
Updates of system, browser and applications solve issues of security vulnerabilities.Turn automatic update on where possible, uninstall unnecessary programs, and install applications only from official markets and known distributors. Install reliable security software as needed, but do not disable any security measures available in default configuration for no apparent reason.
5. Protect yourself online
Set up your privacy setting and share your personal information with those who need it. Do not publish any data related to your passport, air tickets, bank accounts, and schedule.. Do not add people who you don’t know as friends or accept their messages, even if their profile belongs to your friend.
6. Think about networks
While doing all necessary actions, use a safe network such as home Wi-Fi or mobile internet, but not a public one. In case you need to use a public network, be sure that all web pages use the HTTPS protocol and you might use a trusted VPN. But, remember that a VPN will ensure your safety only while you are connected to the network and no longer.
7. Watch for accounts and transactions
Control your bank and credit card statements and payment apps. Try to use transaction alerts if possible. In case of any suspicious activity with regard to your transactions and login process, address the issue to the provider via official communication channels. Be aware of your e-mail inbox and any suspicious logins, forwarding, and messages sent by anyone other than yourself.
8. Careful with downloading and permissions
Avoid downloading any pirated software and attachments. Be very cautious about downloading remote control software from people that you don’t know. It is always vital for you to make sure which mobile apps have access to your contacts, location, camera, microphone, and files.
9. Safety of financial and identify information
It is crucial to keep in mind that only authentic sites/organizations must be trusted in sharing your personal information. Just because the site uses HTTPS does not mean that it is an authentic one. UPI PIN and OTP must never be shared with others.
10. Restore information and backups
Update your email addresses and contact numbers used for account recovery. Remove unrecognized devices or sessions from the accounts. It is recommended that you create digital backups of your crucial files in case of a breach of security by storing them either in your cloud server or in some other backup resource.
What to do in case you suspect an Identity Theft?
Take action without delay if anything suspicious happens. Report to the bank, payment agency, or online entity concerned through the official channel asking it to lock the account or look into the case of any unauthorized transaction. Change your passwords using the trustworthy computer starting from the password of the e-mail and log out of all the sessions that you do not know. Collect all the required data such as transactions, communication, e-mails, and screenshots.
For reporting cybercrimes in India, go to the National Cyber Crime Reporting website: https://cybercrime.gov.case of any financial cyber fraud, report immediately on 1930. In addition, notify the bank and in case of misuse of identity documents get guidance from the issuing authority.
Conclusion
The prevention of identity theft on the internet is not done just through the reliance on any single method alone. Instead, it is about developing a process whereby you set secure passwords as well as employ other security measures such as MFA, secure browsing, system updates, minimal sharing, and regular account checking.
Author:
Abhijeet Dhole
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Abhijeet Dhole
Expert trainer and consultant at SevenMentor with years of industry experience. Passionate about sharing knowledge and empowering the next generation of tech leaders.