Our world has become incredibly fast-paced within the last decade. We can now manage our bank accounts on our mobile devices, trade stock online, and with the flash/tap of our credit cards, we can make quick purchases at the store’s checkout counter. Let’s face it; we are a microwave society. We want everything at our disposal, quickly and (almost) instantly. While convenience allows us to keep our affairs in order, I feel we lose a certain level of security. We logon to multiple online accounts and hold a number of cards (memberships, loyalty cards, credit cards, etc.) With so much information being put out there, how do we keep that information and out identity secure? Here are a few tips:

Tips For Keeping Your Identity Secure

1. Don’t Make Passwords Obvious: When creating online passwords, avoid using just one password combination for all of your accounts. Especially for those accounts associated to your banking and credit cards, it’s important that you think of a letter-and-number-combo that is rather difficult to guess. Do not use names of family members, pets, your hometown, birthdays, addresses, etc. If the website allows it, use capital letters and characters (like exclamation marks and commas) when creating your password.
2. Be Wary Of The Websites You Log Onto: Sometimes, fake websites are created so that scammers can phish your information and obtain all of your valuable information (which becomes a recipe for success for identity theft). These websites will look extremely similar to the websites you normally log onto but once you type in your username and password, the scammer will have full-on access to your information. When logging onto your accounts online, double check the URL and make sure it’s from their official website and that everything check out and seems legitimate (high-quality images, familiar logos, etc.)
3. Never Give Out Your SSN: Your social security number is highly-sensitive information. Bear in mind that a website should never require your SSN to login, retrieve your password, or to signup. That being said, you should also be wary of anyone requesting your SSN over the phone. Your social security number should remain as confidential as possible, so refrain from giving it out too frequently and share it with more reputable firms and organizations (like your bank) in-person.
4. Get In The Habit Of Double Checking: When you’re out, get in the habit of double checking that you have all of your personal belongings. For example, I double check if my pockets and purse are always holding my three essentials: keys, wallet, and phone. I do this check every time I leave a store so that I’m constantly assured that my belonging are safe and still one me.
5. Block Out Signals: As technology quickly develops in positive ways, unfortunately, scammers and thieves develop malicious products to keep up. Recently, there have been reports of phishers managing to obtain information just by mere signals emitted from phones, cards, GPS trackers, etc. Some machines out there are so strong that they can just be placed next to your purse and manage to grab information from its inner contents. That is why I use the line of anti-theft products from Silent Pocket, where fashion and function meet beautifully!

Silent Pocket holds a line of anti-theft products that I’ve had my eye on for quite some time. With the sheer idea that your personal information can be compromised even if none of your cards have actually been physically stolen, you try to think of all the measures you could take for extra protection. Each Silent Pocket product is built with layers of RF shielding, which is the material that obstructs any type of signals (like GPS, WiFi, etc.) to decrease your chances of identity theft.

What’s even better is that all of their products are made to shield against radiation and static shock, while still staying fashion-forward in their high-quality leather casings. Unlike most shield-protected wallets and cases on the market, Silent Pocket boasts stylish designs that are sleek and classy. For instance, their V2 Carryall Clutch ($89.95 USD) is elegant and has plenty of compartments for easy organization. Silent Pocket doesn’t stop at wallets – they have a full line of cell phone cases, sleeves, and even this gorgeous Faraday Briefcase ($675 USD).

I received the Cell Phone Dual Faraday Carryall ($169.95) which is perfect for when I am running errands. It is sleek, stylish and the wristlet makes it easy to carry. For my husband, I got the super good looking (and practical) Slim Sleek Card Wallet ($39.95) and for my daughter, I got the Checkbook Wallet ($59.95). I love how versatile this beautiful leather piece is. She can carry it to run errands as easily as she can take it on a night out with the girl! With all of these product offerings, it’s nice to know that we can stay safe, organized, and fashionable all at once. To learn more, you can follow Silent Pocket on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. One USA reader will win one Cell Phone Dual Faraday Carryall ($169.95).

What steps do you take to lower your identity theft?