The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that identity theft – the unauthorized use of your personal identifying information, like your name, Social Security number or credit card number, to commit fraud or other crimes – is approaching 10 million incidents per year.

According to the FTC, on average, it takes a victim an estimated $500 and 30 hours to resolve each incidence of identity theft. No one wants to lose that kind of money at any time of year, but those time and monetary costs can be even more stressful during the holidays.

“The holidays present a wealth of opportunity for identity thieves,” says Heather Battison, TransUnion‘s senior director responsible for consumer education. “The hectic holiday season can potentially expose our personal information to theft in both high-tech ways like phishing scams, and in traditional ones, such as a stolen wallet or mail theft.”

Fortunately, there are proactive steps you can take now, that will help minimize your exposure to identity theft. While these tips from TransUnion are useful year round, they’re especially important during the holiday season:

* When holiday shopping, only carry essential documents with you. Only take your driver’s license and the credit card or cards you intend to use that day. Do not carry your Social Security card, birth certificate or passport, and consider leaving at home other types of cards that may have identifying information on them, like wholesale club cards or library cards.

* The holidays mean plenty of extra trash. Shred everything that contains personal, identifying information before throwing it out.

* Keep a close eye on your credit card bills. This is especially important during the holidays, when close attention can help you catch any charges you don’t recognize on your statement. An added bonus – you’ll also be more aware of how much you’re spending and be better prepared to stay within your holiday spending budget.

* Monitor your credit. Consider enrolling in a credit monitoring service that will alert you via email to changes in your credit report. This way you will know quickly if someone else has tried to open a new credit account in your name.

* When shopping online, only do business with websites that have security measures in place to protect you. Before you provide any personal or payment information, look for a URL that begins with https (not http) and a lock emblem on the page, typically next to the address bar.

* Before you surf the “Net” on Cyber Monday, consider changing your account passwords and keep a list of them in a secure place. Passwords and PIN numbers should be a random mix of letters, numbers and special characters, which makes it harder for identity thieves to guess.

Preventing identity theft is important year round, and especially during the holidays. By taking steps to protect yourself, you can help ensure your holidays remain bright – and secure.

The post Identity Theft Prevention Tips for the Holiday Season first appeared on The How Do Gardener.

Cyber criminals often target consumers who are least protected. Gary McAlum, chief security officer at USAA, a leading financial services provider that serves members of the military and their families, offers five simple tips that will help every consumer be less attractive to a cyber criminal and ultimately be better protected against cyber attacks.

1. Put up a strong fence
The “fundamental three” of computer security consists of a firewall, anti-malware software and automatic updates. Chances are you already have these installed on your machine. Modern computers and routers have firewalls built in, and you can download a reputable anti-malware program online, often for free. Cyber criminals are constantly advancing their techniques and their abilities, so updating your protection software is critical to keeping your wall strong. Do your research before downloading any programs from the Internet.  Some viruses are disguised as anti-malware programs.

2. Get complicated
Passwords are the first line of defense to protect your sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands. Whenever money is involved, toughen up. If a hacker gets your email password, what’s the next stop? Your bank. Take extra care with your financial account passwords. Do not use simple words or anything like your last name or a pet’s name. Incorporate numbers and special characters, and change passwords every six months.

3. Authenticate your devices
Companies are employing new tools to make their website more secure. In fact, a new breed of website security adds an extra layer of protection beyond usernames and passwords by registering your computer and/or smartphone’s unique thumbprint when you first login. Why? The website is more confident it’s you doing the driving instead of a cyber-thief. If the site detects a computer you don’t normally use, expect extra questions to prove your identity.

Want to get proactive? Check with your financial institution to see if they offer tools to help you protect yourself. USAA offers an additional protection mechanism, called CyberCode, in case your username, password, and PIN get into the wrong hands. Easily installed on any smart phone, this app sends members a new, randomly generated code right to their phone that they must use to access their accounts.

4. Be alert
Most credit card issuers allow you set parameters so your provider can send you a text message or email if a large charge hits your card. For example, USAA has a two-way, instant text system that will allow you to confirm any purchase while you’re at the checkout register – or if it’s not your purchase, you can deny it instantly. Also be sure to review your statements for abnormal activity.

5. Be suspicious
Most people get scammed by offering too much personal information. Cyber criminals may try to disguise themselves as trusted entities. Be wary, and don’t give away your password or credit card number if you’re contacted by anyone posing as your financial institution. Even if an email or a phone call appears to be legit, be suspicious. Remember, no legitimate financial institution will ask you to provide personal or financial information in response to an email. In fact, USAA has developed an email system called “Security Zone” that ensures each email is tagged with each member’s unique identification information, so people can have confidence that these emails are in fact from USAA.

Cyber crime is prevalent, and the perpetrators are constantly improving their techniques. By following these steps, you will be better equipped to help combat potential attacks. For more information about how to protect yourself from cyber crime, visit the Security and Privacy Center on www.usaa.com.

The post Fight Cyber Crime with Cyber Smarts first appeared on The How Do Gardener.