As consumers in the digital age we have repeatedly had our confidence in the security of our identity and financial information tested. First it was the dramatic increase in identity theft at the IRS. Then the major data breach at companies like Target, Neiman Marcus, Yahoo and others. Now we hear that a bug called Heartbleed has made secure web sites anything but secure. Here is a checklist of things to consider;

Change your user ids every three to six months Change your passwords every three to six months Close potentially compromised accounts Replace compromised debit and credit cards Understand your risks of theft (for instance your financial risk on credit theft is different than debit card fraud) Consider a credit monitoring service Monitor your social media footprint Update your computer security software Review your credit reports Correct any errors on your credit reports Review your children’s accounts and credit reports Report suspicious activity in your accounts

	Shred confidential information before tossing it
	Do not share logins and passwords
	Create separate credit card and banking accounts for internet transactions
	Consider using a PO Box for mail

Other resources

	FREE credit report. Each year you are entitled to receive a FREE credit report from the major credit report companies. To receive yours go to: AnnualCreditReport.com
	IRS Identity Theft: Tips for taxpayers
	Federal Trade Commission: Identity theft help