Protect Your Identity in Retirement With Discover Identity Theft Protection

If you’ve worked hard for years to prepare yourself financially for retirement, the last thing you would want to see is your careful financial plans put in jeopardy because of identity theft. Having your sensitive information compromised could lead to fraudulent charges on your credit card, or having part of your savings stolen. It’s important to be mindful of the ways your identity can be stolen, as well as how you can protect yourself from identity theft. One option to protect yourself could be Discover Identity Theft Protection.

Everyday identity theft risks

When you disclose personal information in social media accounts, access your bank account over a public WiFi network, or save credit card numbers at retailer web sites, you may be increasing your risk of identity theft. The work you’ve done all these years to ensure your financial security in retirement could be vulnerable.

Cybercriminals may sell or trade personal information they have about you to identity thieves, who may be able to use that to get even more data about you. In total, this may mean that cybercriminals have a more complete picture of you that can leave your digital identity at risk.

Keep your digital DNA to yourself

Your digital DNA is everywhere, and you can lessen the risks surrounding it in a few ways. These include:

• When it comes to your social media profile, don’t give everything away–full birth date, childhood hometown, parents’ full names, and so on. An identity thief could use that information about you to gain access to sensitive information.
• Before you travel, consider installing a virtual private network on your mobile device, which can encrypt internet traffic and help protect sensitive information–like passwords.
• Make harder-to-crack passwords for banks and other sensitive account sign-ins. If you’ve been using simple passwords for many years, it’s time to trade ABC123 in favor of something like Y&9)aaB. You can use password generators and managers to create strong passwords, regularly change, and securely store them. Don’t forget to apply the same password rules to any credit card information you want to keep as a default with a trusted online retailer.
• Make sure to watch what websites you visit and emails you open, as they can be the entry points to phishing attacks and malware installations. Don’t respond with any personal information and check that the email address corresponds to a real website. Be aware of scams that specifically target older adults.

Discover is your partner in combating identity theft

Discover can help you tackle identity theft with Discover Identity Theft Protection for just $15 per month (plus applicable sales tax).² This comprehensive service monitors all three credit bureaus for key changes, any of thousands of Dark Web sites for your SSN, and more for potential threats to your identity. In the case of ID theft, you can access up to $1 million of identity theft insurance for legal expense, reimbursement of stolen funds, lost wages and more covered expenses—and count on expert service from 100% U.S.-based fraud resolution specialists.

Taking some simple steps to be more vigilant in your everyday life and enlisting the help of an identity theft protection service may provide you with the peace of mind you need to fully enjoy your retirement.