Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of tips to help Creditnet readers protect themselves against identity theft. Check out last week's article on items you should remove from your wallet to prevent ID theft.
Let's be honest here: passwords are hard to remember. Seemingly everything I do online now requires a password, even the low-risk profiles I can't imagine anyone wanting to get a hold of.
But here's the thing about all these passwords all over the 'net; if you don't start switching your password up on multiple profiles, even those profiles you consider "low-risk" could hold the key to more serious profiles and - potentially - identity theft.
You've probably read that it's a smart idea to switch up your passwords online, and it's just as likely that you may have ignored said advice. But having one or two passwords for ALL of your accounts makes it simple for an identity thief to gain access to, well, ALL of your accounts. You don't need to make every password super complicated, but you should make the accounts attached to your most personal finance accounts - your bank accounts, credit card accounts, etc. - separate and completely different from the standard passwords you use.
Frankly, there's a wide range in site security online. Some websites are secured and thus protect more against ID theft, while others have less roadblocks to online fraud in place. Identifying yourself on these sites using the same password that you use for your most personal accounts put hackers one step closer to your money and your accounts.
And while we're talking about passwords, it's important to keep these to yourself. Don't write them down, don't store them on your computer somewhere. Keep them in your head, and nowhere else.
If you're in violation of this newest identity theft prevention tip, log on to your personal accounts now and get to work on switching up those passwords today. You'll automatically feel better about the security of your online identity.
