Freeze Your Credit

Hopefully you are already using a password manager to keep a separate (long, complex, unique) password for each website you use, updating your software regularly, and not clicking sketchy links on the internet. Another thing you can do¹ to defeat identity thieves is to freeze your credit. This tells the credit bureaus not to release your credit report to anyone who doesn’t already have access. Since most lenders won’t issue credit without first checking your report, freezing it prevents new accounts from being opened in your name. A credit freeze is free and fairly straightforward, but you need to do it separately with each of the big three consumer credit reporting agencies:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

You don’t need to upgrade to a paid CreditLock or whatever, just search for “credit freeze.” You will need:

• Your full legal name
• Date of birth
• Social Security number
• Current and past addresses
• Access to your phone/email for identity verification

Each bureau will give you a PIN or account to manage freezes/unfreezes. Store these in your password manager.

Also, remember that you may need to temporarily unfreeze one or more of the above if you are:

• Applying for a mortgage or car loan
• Opening a new credit card
• Switching phone providers
• Getting a background check for a job

Unfreezing can be done online, often within minutes, and you can lift the freeze for a only a set period of time.

Related:

Cybersecurity Best Practices

Data Brokers