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<\/p>\nThe best way to protect yourself from identity theft is to make your personal data hard to use, even if it leaks: freeze your credit at all three bureaus, lock your tax return with an IRS Identity Protection PIN, and protect your accounts with unique passwords and two-factor sign-in. Then watch your reports and statements so you catch anything odd early. Data breaches mean most people’s name, birth date and even Social Security number are already out there, so these 12 steps focus on what stops a thief from turning that data into new accounts, loans or a fake tax refund.<\/p>\n
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Every step below follows guidance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the IRS, and almost all of it is free.<\/p>\n
\nQuick answer<\/strong><\/p>\n
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- Do today:<\/strong> freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion; get an IRS IP PIN; turn on two-factor sign-in for email and banking.<\/li>\n
- Do this week:<\/strong> move to a password manager, set bank and card alerts, check your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.<\/li>\n
- Habits:<\/strong> never give your SSN or codes to someone who contacts you, shred paper with personal data, and review statements every month.<\/li>\n
- If it happens:<\/strong> report it at IdentityTheft.gov to get a free recovery plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nTable of Contents<\/p>\n