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To protect your identity online, make every account harder to take over, share sensitive details sparingly, verify unexpected messages, keep devices and Wi-Fi secure, and respond quickly if information may have been exposed. These six steps are practical starting points; no measure can guarantee that identity theft will never happen.
1. Use a different, long password for every account
Reusing a password creates a chain of risk: if one service is breached, someone may try the same login on your other accounts. Use a unique password for each account, especially email and financial accounts. The Federal Trade Commission’s password guidance recommends strong passwords; its pages give different minimum-length suggestions, so the practical takeaway is to use a long password rather than rely on one universal cutoff.
A password manager can generate and save distinct passwords. You can also use password-generation and storage features built into a browser or device. Protect the email account used for password resets, since access to it can help someone regain access to other accounts.
2. Add multi-factor authentication to important accounts
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) requires another proof of identity in addition to your password. The FTC describes factors as something you know, have, or are. Turn MFA on first for email and financial accounts, then for other accounts that offer it. The available choices depend on the service.
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When offered, an authenticator app or a physical security key is generally preferable to a code sent by text or email. The FTC calls security keys the strongest two-factor method in its guide; a key works only with accounts that support it. See the FTC guide to two-factor authentication for an explanation of options.
3. Share sensitive information only when there is a good reason
Before giving an organization your Social Security number, ask why it needs it, how it will protect it, whether another identifier will work, and whether it needs the full number or only the last four digits. Be especially cautious if the request arrives unexpectedly by phone, email, or text. The FTC advises against providing personal information in response to an unexpected contact; its identity-theft guidance explains what to do if information is misused.
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4. Check unexpected messages without using their links
Unexpected emails and texts can be phishing attempts designed to get personal or financial information. The Federal Trade Commission’s April 2025 phishing advice is direct: “Don’t click links or download attachments in unexpected messages.” If a message might be genuine, contact the organization using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate—not the contact details or link in the message.
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5. Keep your devices and home Wi-Fi protected
Personal information is at risk when devices or networks are poorly secured. Use these habits at home and on the devices you carry:
- Install updates for your operating system, browser, apps, and security software.
- Change the router’s default administrator password and the Wi-Fi password to strong, unique passwords.
- Use encryption for your Wi-Fi network, and lock phones, computers, and tablets when you are not using them.
- Back up important information so you have another copy if a device is lost, damaged, or compromised.
The FTC’s personal-information protection guidance and security checklist cover these safeguards.
6. Act promptly if a password or personal information may be exposed
If you think a password has been exposed, change it promptly. Change it anywhere else you reused it, as well as passwords that are very similar. If the affected account offers MFA, enable it and review the account for unfamiliar activity.
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If you suspect someone is using your personal information to open accounts, make purchases, or file taxes, report the identity theft and follow the personalized recovery guidance at IdentityTheft.gov, the FTC’s reporting and recovery resource. The FTC also explains warning signs and response steps in its identity-theft guide.
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How do I protect my identity online?
Start with the accounts that could unlock other accounts: give each a unique long password and enable MFA where available. Then reduce unnecessary sharing of sensitive information, verify unexpected requests independently, secure devices and Wi-Fi, and act quickly if something may have been exposed. These are U.S.-focused recommendations from the FTC; they reduce common risks but do not guarantee protection from identity theft.
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