Unfortunately, we live in a society where identity theft abounds. According to the U.S. Justice Department, about 8.6 million households had at least one member, over the age of 12, who was victimized by identity theft in 2010 – mainly (64.1%) through the misuse or attempted misuse of an existing credit card account. However, thieves are also targeting other types of accounts and information, too, which has led to an increased number of crimes.

When thieves get a hold of your information, they can wreck your credit score by maxing out your credit card(s), and applying for additional credit cards and loans in your name. It may be 60 days before you’re even aware of the theft. By then, it can be a long, difficult process to fix the damage done to your credit report. And in the meantime, you can be denied for additional credit and loans, like a home mortgage, that you may need.

Today, we rely on the Internet a lot for our daily interactions from communicating and socializing to shopping and paying our bills. But, regrettably, there’s no one who’s monitoring the Internet to keep our information safe. Therefore, it’s up to us to do everything we can to make sure our online private information is kept safe and secure.

So, here are some ways you can protect your private information:

1. Install and maintain the latest operating system, web browsers and security software on all of your Internet-enabled devices to protect them against viruses, malware and other online threats.
2. Protect your home’s wireless router by changing its name and pre-set password; choosing a WPA or WPA2 security option; and using a firewall.
3. Create a unique, strong password for each online account. Use a minimum of 8 characters with a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Change your passwords quarterly, and never share them with anyone. Also protect your password list by putting it in a safe location away from your computer.
4. Never connect to unknown wireless networks – only use legitimate Wi-Fi hotspots. Adjust your security settings so others can’t access your machine.
5. Always use secure sites for all financial transactions. Look for a URL address that begins with https:// or shttp://. Http:// is not secure. Never process any financial transactions over a public wireless network. Use safe payment options like a credit card when shopping online.
6. Limit the amount of personal information you share with others on websites, blogs and social networks. Set your privacy and security settings for these sites to your comfort level. Be wary of accepting friend requests from strangers.
7. Enable your spam filters on your email programs to weed out spam, phishing and other scams. Don’t open suspicious-looking emails or links – delete them! If you need to verify information, contact the company directly using the information from your account statement or the company’s website.

Unfortunately, identify theft can cause all sorts of losses – money, time and your sense of security. So be smart when using your Web-enabled devices to keep your credit score protected. To learn more about cyber security, visit www.StaySafeOnline.org.

At Grandview Lending, our priority is protecting your personal information. When you apply for a loan through us, we take every precaution to keep your information confidential. Also, you can rest assured that we never sell your information to any individual or company. We respect your privacy. So you can put your trust in Grandview Lending for all your loan needs.