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4 Ways to Use Account Freeze to Improve Online Safety

If you have never been a victim of a cyber attack, then you’re one of the lucky ones. As technology develops, the number of options for cybercriminals grows. Your data can be protected, but only if you take certain precautions.

In the following article, you can read about problematic situations and common vulnerabilities. It’s imperative that you learn how to protect yourself.

Act If You Notice Anything Suspicious

Whenever you notice unusual problems on your mobile device/PC, you should be suspicious.

The majority of us are quite careless and inconsiderate when it comes to our private data. We feel that we are safe with our easy-to-remember passwords and usernames. However, the fact that you’re this thrusting and naïve makes it only easier for intruders to snoop around and collect your data.

Therefore, you should observe the functionality of your device/PC. If you notice that the sound is off but you can hear some unfamiliar noise, or if your screen is flickering oddly, someone else might be using your phone or tablet. If you notice unusual activity in your online activities or email.

In these situations, you shouldn’t think that you’re paranoid – it’s better to be safe than sorry. So, freeze your accounts until you are completely sure that your online account is safe to use.

Be Careful When Using Public Wifi

Most people like the convenience of having free Wifi somewhere. However, there are many dangers you should be familiar with.

First of all, there could be cybercriminals lurking; their activity has been growing with each year. These criminals get notified whenever a new connection is made. Your conversations, transactions, or browsing history might not be private when you’re using an internet connection that’s available to a wide audience.

Secondly, your connection might not be encrypted. Encryption is there to allow safe, private browsing. When a licensed IT professional controls your internet connection – in your home or your office for example – you’re safe from anyone who would misuse your data. However, this is something you shouldn’t count on when using a public connection.

If you ever noticed that your device is experiencing glitches after you have used a public Wi-Fi, chances are that you have problems with malware. A criminal can “infect” your device by attacking its vulnerable spots and thus weaken your device so that they can misuse it afterward.

Finally, just because a Wifi’s name seems to be legit, it doesn’t mean that it really is. For example, if you’re in a park and you see an open connection that carries the name of that location, there’s a chance that it’s fake. Cybercriminals are clever enough to play with names to give you a false sense of safety.

For all of these reasons, you should freeze your accounts when you want to connect to a public Wifi.

Protect Your Data While Traveling

Tourists are an easy target for experienced criminals both online or on the streets.

Considering the fact that small devices are easy to steal, sell, and transport, you need to take certain precautions to protect your devices from being stolen. For starters, you should lock your phone with a password. In case your device gets stolen, that password can buy you some time.

Furthermore, tourists are relaxed. Most of them don’t take the necessary precautions and it’s understandable why – you’re finally on your vacation and you want to unwind and have fun. Criminals can and will take advantage of this fact.

In addition, you can never be fully confident in your internet connection. Like we discussed, criminals can develop rouge Wifi connections that look legit.

To secure your accounts and so that you don’t have to think about these problems while on your holiday, you should freeze your accounts for the duration of the entire vacation.

Select the Most Suitable Option

You can choose among different types of freeze options and find the most suitable one for your situation.

If you feel suspicious for any reason, you can simply freeze all your accounts indefinitely – until you decide to unfreeze them again. When you think that there’s an unwelcome party eavesdropping and going through your private information, this might be the best option for you. You have enough time to pay a visit to an IT professional and have them check your phone.

You also have the “until Date & Time” freeze option, which is perfect for traveling. You should put in your return date, and your accounts will unfreeze when you get back to the safety of your home.

Furthermore, you can freeze out all other devices except your own. You can do the same with your IP address and thus disable access to anyone who’s attempting to intrude your privacy.

 

With a simple action, such as freezing your accounts at the right moment, you can save yourself from a lot of trouble. Now that you’re familiar with situations that criminals are likely to misuse and ways to protect your information, you are finally in charge of your own safety.

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