1. It could happen to you. The Web is rife with anonymous crooks who thrive in an online underground where they peddle stolen personal data. This year alone, according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, hackers stole more than 13 million records containing sensitive information, such as Social Security, financial-account and driver’s license numbers. “Companies don’t always know what’s been taken,” says Christopher Boyd, who researches cyber threats at GFI Software. “They have to assume everything was compromised even if there’s a good probability it wasn’t.”
2. Defend your PC. Hackers can wreak havoc using PCs they’ve infected with rogue software, says Matthew Prince, a Web security expert and founder of CloudFlare. Install the latest firewall, anti-malware and antivirus software on your home machine, and always download the recommended security updates for your programs and browsers. Secunia Personal Software Inspector is a free download that identifies vulnerabilities in applications such as Adobe Reader and Adobe Flash.
3. Pick your passwords wisely. And use a unique password for each of your online accounts. “A lot of people don’t change their password for different sites,” says Jacques Erasmus, of Webroot Software, who prowls hacker forums in search of the latest cyber-threat trends. “Hackers exploit this by using stolen passwords to log in to other sites to steal your money or identity.” A strong password has both upper- and lowercase letters, as well as numbers, punctuation marks and symbols; never use common names or dictionary words. KeePass, a free password-management program, can generate, store and protect all of your log-in credentials on your desktop and sync the data with your smart phone.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
4. Minimize the damage. If one of your online accounts has been breached, assume your data has been disclosed. If your credit or debit card numbers could have been leaked, cancel your compromised cards and compare your online statements with your credit card or ATM receipts. If your Social Security number is exposed, place a security freeze on your credit report, which locks your file so that only you and existing creditors can access your account. Visit Privacyrights.org for more recommendations on dealing with security breaches.
5. Surf responsibly. If you’re entering confidential information into a Web page, look for https:// in the URL bar to ensure your data is safe from meddlers. Never use a public Wi-Fi network to log in to your sensitive accounts. Instead, choose wireless connections that are password-protected. Better yet, sign up for a personal virtual private network service, such as Open VPN Shield Exchange.
6. Think before you click. Malicious code often lurks in sketchy downloads, pop-ups, links such as shortened URLs and sites your grandmother wouldn’t approve of. According to Symantec’s most recent Internet Security Threat report, 49% of search terms that resulted in visits to infected Web sites were seeking “adult entertainment.”
-
Should You Renew Your CD?With rate cuts impacting earnings, we examine if now is a wise time to renew CDs.
-
7 Ways to Plan Now to Save on Medicare IRMAA Surcharges LaterUnderstand the critical two-year lookback period and why aggressive planning before you enroll in Medicare is the most effective way to minimize IRMAA.
-
Law Reversal Looming? Trump Eyes 2026 Gambling Winnings Tax ChangeTax Deductions It's no secret that the IRS is coming after your gambling winnings in 2026. But how long will that last?
-
When Tech is Too MuchOur Kiplinger Retirement Report editor, David Crook, sounds off on the everyday annoyances of technology.
-
I Let AI Read Privacy Policies for Me. Here's What I LearnedA reporter uses AI to review privacy policies, in an effort to better protect herself from fraud and scams.
-
Amazon Resale: Where Amazon Prime Returns Become Your Online BargainsFeature Amazon Resale products may have some imperfections, but that often leads to wildly discounted prices.
-
What Is AI? Artificial Intelligence 101Artificial intelligence has sparked huge excitement among investors and businesses, but what exactly does the term mean?
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2026Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to save for retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2026 limits and income-based phaseouts.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnbreal estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute VacationTravel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
-
How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?insurance When assessing how much life insurance you need, take a systematic approach instead of relying on rules of thumb.
