10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft in 2026

The Identity Theft Crisis

Identity theft affects millions of Americans every year:

• 15 million Americans are victims annually
• $52 billion in losses
• Average victim spends 200+ hours recovering
• 1 in 3 Americans will experience identity theft

10 Ways to Protect Yourself

1. Remove Your Data from Data Brokers

Data brokers are goldmines for identity thieves. They provide:

• Your full name and aliases
• Current and past addresses
• Phone numbers
• Relatives' names
• And much more...

Action: Use GhostMyData to automatically remove your information from 1,500+ data brokers.

2. Use Unique Passwords Everywhere

Password reuse is the #1 cause of account compromise.

Action:

• Use a password manager (1Password, Bitwarden)
• Generate unique 16+ character passwords
• Never reuse passwords across sites

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

2FA blocks 99.9% of automated attacks.

Action: Enable 2FA on:

• Email accounts
• Banking and financial sites
• Social media
• Shopping sites
• Use authenticator apps over SMS when possible

4. Freeze Your Credit

A credit freeze prevents new accounts being opened in your name.

Action: Freeze your credit at all three bureaus:

• Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
• Experian: experian.com/freeze
• TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-freeze

It's free and can be temporarily lifted when needed.

5. Monitor Your Credit Reports

Check for unauthorized accounts or inquiries.

Action:

• Get free reports at annualcreditreport.com
• Stagger requests (one bureau every 4 months)
• Look for accounts you didn't open
• Check for incorrect information

6. Be Phishing-Aware

Most breaches start with phishing emails.

Action:

• Don't click links in unexpected emails
• Verify sender addresses carefully
• When in doubt, go to the website directly
• Use email filtering and security tools

7. Secure Your Mail

Physical mail theft is still common.

Action:

• Use USPS Informed Delivery
• Switch to paperless statements
• Shred sensitive documents
• Use a locked mailbox

8. Limit Social Media Exposure

Oversharing provides answers to security questions.

Action:

• Don't post birthday, hometown, pet names
• Review privacy settings regularly
• Be selective with friend requests
• Avoid location check-ins

9. Monitor Your Accounts

Early detection limits damage.

Action:

• Enable transaction alerts on all accounts
• Review statements regularly
• Set up credit monitoring alerts
• Check medical insurance statements

10. Use Dark Web Monitoring

Know when your data appears on criminal marketplaces.

Action: Use a dark web monitoring service like GhostMyData Enterprise to get alerts when your information appears on the dark web.

What to Do If You're a Victim

• Place fraud alerts with credit bureaus
• File an FTC report at identitytheft.gov
• File a police report for documentation
• Close compromised accounts
• Create new accounts with strong security
• Monitor for additional fraud

Comprehensive Protection

GhostMyData provides layered protection:

• Data removal - Less data available to steal
• Breach monitoring - Early warning of exposures
• Dark web surveillance - Detect criminal activity
• Ongoing monitoring - Continuous protection

Start protecting yourself today with a free scan.