How to Protect Your Personal Information Online: 5 Steps

In today’s digital world, our personal information is more exposed than ever. From social media activity to online banking, every click and login can open the door to risks like identity theft, scams, and data breaches. UMCU is committed to doing all we can to protect our members, but it’s important to understand the risks and take proactive steps to protect yourself. This article will present five turnkey ways to protect your data online.

Enable Multifactor Authentication on Your Accounts

Nowadays, most websites have the option to enable multifactor (MFA) or two-factor authentication. This extra layer of protection will first require your username and password to login, and then a second form of identification, such as a unique one-time code sent to your phone or email, or a face ID scan. Your accounts are safer and less likely to be compromised by using MFA. Yes, it’s one extra step, but the security benefits are well worth it.

Protect Your Privacy on Social Media

Most of us have multiple social media accounts, whether it be Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or LinkedIn. Unfortunately, fraudsters can search these personalized pages for information they could use to hack accounts. To help prevent this, keep your accounts private. Avoid oversharing personal details as this data could be used to potentially impersonate you or to guess passwords and security questions. Finally, be mindful of who you accept as a friend or follower.

Delete Old and Unused Apps from Your Devices

Many of us download apps and forget about them. Having more apps on your devices can leave you exposed to potential software vulnerabilities, data tracking, or even phone hacking. Take some time this month and give yourself an “app audit” to remove those unused or unneeded apps – to provide less chance for scammers to access your information.

Request Removal of Your Personal Information from Public Websites

Have you ever Googled your own name and seen that your address, phone number, email address, or other personal information are listed publicly on several different websites? For many people, it is unnerving and can put you more at risk of identity theft.

Normally there is an option to email or submit a form to these websites individually to remove your information, but Google also has a way to remove your private information from Google Search. When you submit a removal request, Google will email you when your personal information is found online and you can request to remove it directly through your Google account.

Freeze Your Credit Reports with All Three Bureaus

There are three main credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) in the United States that maintain our credit reports. Our reports are filled with personal data such as addresses, phone numbers, birthdate, employers, and detailed account information. It’s imperative you review your reports periodically to make sure the data is correct and there is no sign of fraudulent activity, such as an unauthorized new account. You can request a free copy of all three credit reports weekly at www.annualcreditreport.com.

To secure your credit reports and further protect yourself from fraudulent accounts being opened in your name, consider putting a credit freeze on each report. It’s free and can be done online using the appropriate website for the credit bureau. A credit freeze provides an extra layer of security against fraud and has no impact on your credit score or your current (existing) accounts.

Protecting yourself online does not have to be complicated. Start with one step this week and build from there. For more resources on financial safety, see UMCU's Fight Financial Fraud guide below.

Fight Financial Fraud Brochure

Mark Munzenberger is the Financial Education Manager at UMCU, where he leads financial wellness programs and resources for members across southeast Michigan.