how can you protect yourself from identity theft

To protect yourself from identity theft, it is important to follow a variety of security measures such as using strong, unique passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication on your accounts. Keeping sensitive documents locked up and shredding old records before disposal helps prevent physical theft of information. Also, securing your wireless network at home, avoiding public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions, and using virtual private networks (VPN) when on public networks add protection to your digital identity. Being cautious with what personal information you share online and over the phone, regularly monitoring your financial statements and credit reports for unauthorized activity, and logging out of online accounts when done are also crucial practices. Additionally, limiting the amount of personal information you carry daily and safeguarding devices with updated antivirus software further strengthen your defense against identity theft.