3 Ways to “Social Distance” Yourself from Privacy and Security Threats

Social distancing is, for the foreseeable future, our new reality. Stepping out of the house these days looks drastically different than it used to. Whenever we eat out, shop, or go to the doctor, we’re asked to stay six feet apart. And just as we need space to protect our physical health, we need to take steps to help safeguard ourselves and our families from identity theft, fraud, and privacy risks.

Here are three ways you can “social distance” yourself from online threats:

1. Know Your Rights

Hackers took advantage of the fear caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with countless attempts to commit fraud, steal identities, and attack computer systems. Since the stay-at-home-order began, IDX Identity members have experienced a 50% increase in the number of targeted scams and phishing attacks via email, call, and texts.

Here are a few of the more notable risks:

• Nearly one-fifth of all phishing emails identified on the Gmail platform—more than 18 million daily—contain coronavirus or COVID-19-related content.
• Zoombombers have invaded the most private events held on the video-conferencing platform, including an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in New York and a Sunday school in Texas.
• Unemployment fraud has increased right along with the unemployment rates. The Seattle Times reports that Washington state paid between $550 million to $650 million in fraudulent claims—as much as one of every $8 paid in benefits during the pandemic.
• Scammers are offering fake coronavirus testing and coronavirus vaccine kits being sold through websites that claim to represent the World Health Organization (WHO), the FDA, or other legitimate agencies. The sites offer the kits for free, but consumers have to enter credit cards and other information to pay for shipping.

While the risks may come and go, one thing remains certain: Cyber-crooks will always prey on widespread fears about our health, our jobs, and our safety—and we need to stay vigilant.

2. Practice Good Security Hygiene when Working from Home

Even as the pandemic lifts, many of us will be working remotely for the foreseeable future. A recent survey found that nearly three-fourths of business leaders plan to move at least some employees to remote work permanently. Some common-sense precautions to take:

• Be careful of connecting to corporate networks using personal devices that haven’t been vetted and may not be patched against the latest bugs.
• Only use your work computer for work. It’s easy to let your guard down when looking at personal email or browsing the web.
• Be cautious of any attachment from emails you don’t recognize. Criminals are continually looking for new ways to steal personal data and create emails that look similar to people you may know.
• Never use public WiFi networks. These are not secure against hackers. If you go into a public space of any kind—like a grocery store, pharmacy, or a park—turn off your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
• Always opt-into two-factor authentication whenever possible.
• Use biometric security like a fingerprint or facial recognition on your mobile device.
• Stay alert with identity and privacy protection. Proactively safeguard your privacy with a strong detection service, such as IDX’s privacy protection.

3. Take a Stand for Privacy

​Most of us are all too familiar with the fact that giant companies like Facebook and Google make money by gathering information about their users. Recent laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) aim to give customers control over their personal information. This legislation gives California residents the right to know what information a business has collected on them and to say no to the sale of that information.

​Other states are proposing their own privacy laws, but privacy is a right all Americans should have—wherever they live. So if you have the chance, support federal legislation that promotes privacy. We encourage you to speak to your representatives or senators in the U.S. Congress and make your voice heard.

Together, we can protect our personal privacy, now and in a post-pandemic world.