Here are some steps and precautions you can take to protect yourself and your family from online hackers:
Change your passwords from time to time. Don’t post anything on a social network you may use as a password: your birth date, pet’s name, mother’s maiden name or your school. Identity thieves can use the information you post to guess your password.
Do not email your credit card number to anyone. There are many phishing scams using Sony’s name now, but Sony, or any other company, will not contact you and ask for your Social Security number, credit card number or other personal information. Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from email you get, regardless of what company sent them. You can forward phishing emails to spam@uce.gov.
Monitor debt and credit cards for suspicious purchases at least weekly. If you feel your card information was stolen, consider canceling your linked card. Be persistent with watching your accounts; it may be months or even a year before thieves actually use your card.
Check your credit reports. You can get one free credit report every year from each of the three credit bureaus online or by calling (877) 322-8228. Stagger these reviews throughout the year in order to catch anything that isn’t correct in your account.
Protect your wireless router. If you use a wireless router, password protect it and enable the encryption to scramble the data you send online.
Use your credit card instead of debit card. Credit cards offer stronger fraud and identity theft protections.
Send out the word if you are worried. If you feel your information has been compromised, place a fraud alert at the three major credit bureaus. Call Experian at 888-397-3742; Equifax at 800-525-6285; and TransUnion at 800-680-7289. Put a security freeze on your files.
Don’t assume you’re as safe as you can be. Ask your bank if it has free software to protect your bank account. Some offer special protections for their online banking customers.
Contact the FTC. If your information has been stolen, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. The information is used to create a picture of wrongdoing. Unfortunately, the FTC won’t get your money back.
