Protect Your Information and Identity

Though you may not realize it, you are constantly verifying your identity in order to access and make changes to information:

• Logging into a system with your user name and password
• Providing your Social Security Number or birthdate on a form
• Answering security questions or giving PIN numbers to customer service representatives over the phone

This verification process not only authorizes you to view and modify data—it also leaves an audit trail that marks you as responsible for those actions.

This means that it is of the utmost importance that you keep information that can be used to verify your identity confidential: Social Security Number, passwords, birthdates, answers to security questions, etc.  Email login credentials are particularly important, as they can be used to reset passwords to many of your other accounts.

Follow these tips to protect yourself: