Our lives are now filled with gadgets and devices that are connected to the internet. We use digital platforms for everything from online shopping to digital banking and social media. This convenience has a risk since it provides an opportunity for scammers to access our digital identity. Our digital identity is nothing but all of the personal information that we give online including credit card numbers, bank account information, social media profiles, and email addresses. There are quite serious concerns when one's digital identity is compromised. It could result in financial loss, damage to your reputation, affect your credit score, or even put you in legal trouble. Approximately 1 billion emails have exposed the personal information of one in five internet users. The growing rate of online fraud has made it important in protecting your digital identity. This article guides you the steps that will help you to protect your data from online fraud.

Creating strong and unique password

Suggest strong passwords

The first step in protecting your digital identity from an online hacker is by providing a strong password. Using a weak password makes easier for hackers to access the accounts. A strong password should be at least 12 characters long that combine both uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special symbols to increase its difficulty.

Avoid using common words or personal information

It is highly recommended to avoid commonly used and easily guessable password such as personal information like names, birthdates. It is also important to maintain a unique password for each account to reduce the risk of an online scam. Also, reusing passwords across multiple sites makes it easier for attackers to access several accounts. It is advisable to change the passwords every 3 to 6 months for security reasons.

Password manager to store passwords

Managing multiple passwords for multiple accounts can be very challenging. This is where password manager comes handy. The tools that create strong random passwords and safely store them for you are called password managers. Moreover, they can save you time and effort by spontaneously filling in website passwords. It is also not recommended to share your passwords even with trusted friends or family.

Two-factor authentication (2FA)

The online accounts are made more secure by two-factor authentication (2FA) making it harder for hackers to gain access.

Use different methods for authentication

2FA asks you to submit a password and additional information to confirm your digital identity.  It might be a code email to your phone or email, a security question, or a biometric scan.  It's a smart way to protect your online identity.

Implementing 2FA for even a simple password would make it more difficult for the hacker to access your account. It significantly lowers the likelihood that your sensitive information may be accessed by unauthorized parties.  It's easy to set up 2FA on a variety of devices including PCs, tablets, and smartphones.

Secure browsing habits

Safe surfing practices which lower online hazards are another approach to safeguard your digital identity. You must check for the HTTPS (hypertext transfer protocol secure) padlock icon in the address bar of a website before entering your personal information. The website is safe when it has an SSL/TLS (secure sockets layer and transport layer security) certificate.

Avoid clicking on dubious links in emails or messages since they can be infected with spam. Also, avoid pop-up links as they can take you to fake websites that steal your personal data.  You must be care full when sharing private information on social media, including your address or credit card number. To access important information, use a safe network.  Because public Wi-Fi is frequently unprotected, it can expose you to cyber-attacks.

Phishing awareness and prevention

A common way to steal personal information in cybercrime is by Phishing. Cybercriminals create a false sense of urgency through emails, social media messages or fake website to trap victims into providing sensitive data such as passwords or credit card numbers. Common phishing tactics include email phishing and spear phishing. Email phishing is the tactic used by scammers to mimic like a trusted organizations. The customized message that you receive through personal information which appear more convincing is called spear phishing. In order to obtain information, scammers also use misleading websites and manipulated connections. Avoid sending personal information in unsolicited messages.  By confirming email addresses, be wary of dubious links or attachments to prevent phishing.

Conclusion

As our dependency for the internet connected electronics and digital platforms grow, so does the risk to our digital identity. The increase in identity theft and cyber-attacks has made protecting personal information more crucial than ever. The likelihood of you becoming the next victim of identity theft or hacking may seem unlikely. Recovering from this type of abuse is sometimes a long and demanding process that takes years.  By implementing these strategies, we may significantly reduce the possibility that our personal information will be accessed without permission, enhancing the security of our online experiences and shielding us from the damaging consequences of digital identity theft.

Reference

https://www.hp.com/in-en/shop/tech-takes/post/how-to-protect-your-digital-identity?msockid=1004a13cf886633e306fb4b4f940623e

https://www.security.org/digital-safety/

https://encryptcentral.com/how-can-i-protect-my-digital-identity/