Need a Resolution for 2023? Start by Enhancing Your Digital Privacy

By taking a few simple actions right now, you can guard your privacy and identity for the long term

If you’re looking for a practical and beneficial resolution to kick off the new year, how about improving your digital habits and protecting your privacy more carefully? Unlike a vow to get to the gym, this resolution doesn’t actually require any hard work on your part—just some wise decision-making.

Remember that with every website you visit, every app you use, and every online account you open, you are turning over personal data whether you realize it or not. It’s up to you to take steps that limit your privacy risks. Leaving things to chance can open you to the possibility of identity theft and other forms of fraud, which could mean not only financial losses but the emotional toll of having to fight to get back your stolen identity.

The risks of having your personal data compromised

Resolving to better protect your privacy is a good idea because identity theft and other forms of cybercrime are widespread, and they’re not letting up any time soon. The FBI Internet Crime Report found that potential financial losses from cybercrime exceeded $6.9 billion in 2021, up from $4.2 billion in 2020. According to the FBI, by far the most commonly reported cybercrime is phishing, in which fraudsters trick people into clicking harmful links.

More recently, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) found that more than 105 million people were affected by data compromises in the third quarter of 2022 alone, including 23 million people affected by a breach of AT&T and 69 million affected by a breach of Neopets. Phishing attempts continue to be the most common cause of data compromise.

If the past two years have been any indication, you can expect these numbers to keep climbing, as bad actors become more and more sophisticated in their fraud attempts and cyberattacks. Here are some tips on how you can fight back and become a better protector of your own privacy and identity.

1. Monitor your credit for sketchy activity.

Being fiscally responsible isn’t just about keeping a close eye on your spending. It’s also about carefully guarding against credit or financial fraud. Consider credit management services like the ones offered by IDX, which include continuous, automatic monitoring of your credit report and credit score. You’ll get alerted to any new financial activity in your name, so you can act quickly if something seems suspicious. This early warning system can be crucial in limiting the damage should your identity be stolen.

2. Improve your password hygiene.

Hacked passwords remain one of the leading causes of identity theft. Even if you’re not currently using any of the top compromised passwords of 2022, you owe it to yourself to step up your password security by making your passwords as unique and difficult to guess as possible. The good news is, you don’t have to remember them all: Use a password manager tool like IDX Password Manager, which creates random, hard-to-hack passwords for all of your online accounts and stores them in a single encrypted spot. To access your accounts, simply log into Password Manager using one strong password.

3. Mask your identity on public Wi-Fi.

When connecting to public Wi-Fi, there’s a risk that others can use the open network to spy on you, track you, or plant malware on your device. Some scammers even create fake Wi-Fi networks to trick you into connecting, so that they can steal your personal data. If you need to use public Wi-Fi, activate a VPN (Virtual Private Network) like SafeWiFi from IDX. With a VPN, your connection is encrypted and your personal information is delivered anonymously, so no one can access your identity, online activity, or location.

4. Block those tracking cookies.

Many websites use strings of code called tracking cookies to collect your personal data and keep monitoring you even after you’ve left their site to keep browsing the web. The information collected by these cookies can be sold to third parties. Cybercriminals can also use these cookies as a way to grab your data then steal your identity or install malware on your device. The best way to outsmart tracking cookies is to use an advanced tracking blocker like IDX Tracking Blocker, which keeps websites from collecting your data as you browse the web.

5. Get full-on privacy and identity protection.

Individually, each step shown above is an important one. But why not make it even simpler and get all of these protections and more in a single place? Consider a comprehensive identity and privacy protection plan such as IDX Complete. You’ll get a wide array of advanced tools and services covering privacy protection as well as identity monitoring and recovery. Along with credit management services, Password Manager, Safe WiFi, and Tracking Blocker, the plan includes automatic data removal, dark web monitoring, identity theft insurance, and much more.

For even more tips on how to safeguard your digital privacy throughout the year, check here.