We often don’t think about the possible outcomes when we sign up to make accounts online. For example, without thinking twice, you might have given your full name, your email address, and your phone number to create an account for a clothing website, so you can get 50% off on your first order. Although you may be able to get free things or purchase things at a low cost, sharing those types of information leaks your identity and might even lead to your online accounts getting hacked. However, there are 3 major ways to prevent these things from happening.

1. Don’t Give Out Personal Information

When you give out even a little piece of personal or private information to anyone or any website, cybercriminals can find more important personal information about you. This could lead to card fraud, other accounts getting hacked, your social security number being leaked, and many other crimes. 

2. Safe Browse

You might have seen sponsors online that say “FREE GIFT WHEN YOU MAKE AN ACCOUNT” or something that seems strange and a bit out of place. Don’t be tempted to sign up and receive a free product unless those sponsors are reliable companies and you know for sure that those companies are actually having a sale. 

3. Choose Strong Passwords

Many websites now ask you to make your password in a certain way. For example, they might tell you to create a password at least 12 characters long with 2 special characters. This way, the companies prevent their customers’ information from being leaked, making it harder for cybercriminals to guess the password. If the company or website doesn’t tell you the requirements of making a strong password, choose a password that’s at least 12 characters with numbers and special characters to prevent getting your account hacked.

With these 3 simple tips, you can prevent your identity and personal information from being leaked. To know more ways to prevent getting hacked, you can simply search up “ways to stay safe online” and you can read more about what you can do to stay safe.