IDShield Blog
Explore our blog for the latest news, advice, and more
across the world of identity theft protection.
Data Breach | June 30, 2021
Graduates Prime Targets For Theft After Breach
Amidst all the cards, balloons and congratulations, recent high school and college graduates received another present—the breach of credit card data used to order their caps and gowns. Supplier Herff Jones discovered the violation in mid-May as graduates flocked to large venues for the first live...
Identity Theft | June 30, 2021
Six Ways to Guard Your Family’s Gamers
With online gaming, you’re often battling two enemies without realizing it. One’s the warrior or beast on your screen; the other is a silent thief operating in the background who tries to hack your files. These second actors aren’t trying to earn a new skin or rack up a high score; they want your entire record, including...
Internet Privacy | June 28, 2021
Big Data Privacy Tug Of War Is On
An identity crisis has hit the world’s information technology industry. Big Tech giants like Apple, Amazon and Comcast have taken sides in the debate about whether data indicators like tracking should become more private or more ubiquitous. In many cases, consumers are asked to share a piece of their internet...
![unsplash_deX-KChuboY A young woman cooking](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/unsplash_deX-KChuboY.png)
Recent Articles
![Scam alert warning Warning Scam Alert](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IDShield-returning-from-vacation-scams-alert-warning.jpg)
Returning From Vacation? Watch Out for These Scams Targeting Travelers
You’ve had an amazing vacation, and you just got back home with a fresh tan or some amazing new memories. A few days later, you get a phone call from the landlord who owns the rental property where you stayed. They claim that you damaged their property and they want...
![Moving scams frustration Man worried about moving scams as he packs the contents of his home for moving.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IDShield-moving-scams-worried-man.jpg)
Moving Scams and Identity Theft Exposed: Ways to Safeguard Future Moves
Moving is a big deal! You want to make sure that all your papers are signed, keys handed over, belongings packed, and movers arranged. But a busy moving season can quickly turn into a nightmare if you fall prey to a moving scam. Yes, you read that right! What might...
![Review of home documents Couple reviewing their home title while looking concerned.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IDShield-home-title-theft-title-review.jpg)
What Is Home Title Theft and Ways to Avoid It
Housing valuations continue to climb, which means home equity has soared for homeowners… unless someone commits identity theft to steal that equity. Home equity theft, deed theft and title theft are on the rise, and many real estate and government officials fear it...
![Gift card Woman holding a brown Gift Card up against a blue wall.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IDShield-buying-gift-cards-scams-gift-card.jpg)
Buying Gift Cards for Loved Ones? Avoid These Common Scams
By Steve Earls, a seasoned cybersecurity leader who has innovated cybersecurity and risk management strategies at the CIA, Verizon Wireless, and Trane Technologies, is the Chief Information Security Officer overseeing LegalShield’s cybersecurity programs and teams....
![Women viewing email spam Concerned looking woman viewing email spam on her laptop computer](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/spam-scams-1200-1080x675.png)
Recognizing Email Scams: Weird Symbols to Look for
Once upon a time, it was a thrill to receive email. We enthusiastically welcomed birthday greetings and meet-up offers from friends, but today, most inboxes receive a deluge of unwanted, suspicious-looking content. Unfortunately, much of it is spam. So, it follows...
![Elder fraud Couple reviewing a document due to concern about fraud](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/elder-fraud-1200-1080x675.jpg)
Why Older Americans are Top Scam Targets
Scammers who target the elderly seem to be all around us. You’ve likely heard about the grandparent's scam where a caller claims to be an individual's grandchild needing emergency cash. Another classic theme is that the individual has won a prize or giveaway. The...
![data breach lock Padlock representing protection against a data breach](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/data-breach-lock-1080x675.png)
What is a Data Breach?
Data breaches used to be a shock, but now that most of us have a vibrant digital presence, they’ve become more of a reality. If your personally identifiable information hasn’t been compromised by a breach yet, there’s a decent chance that it will at some point in the...
![data breach warning Data breach warning in red](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/data-breach-warning-1080x675.jpg)
Recent Data Breaches
Data breaches, hacks, and digital scams are a huge problem not only for companies and governments but for all of us. Because when your Personal Identifiable Information (PII) is exposed, it leads to identity theft and potentially losing the funds in your bank account....
![touching data protection shield Businessman and woman touching data protection shield](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/touching-data-protection-shield-1080x675.jpg)
Can You Keep Your Info From Being Leaked in a Data Breach?
The short answer to this question is: no. But if you ask the right questions, you can certainly lessen the chances that your personal information will be leaked in a company’s data breach. Data breaches have been dominating the news in recent years and unfortunately,...
![stay safe while surfing the web Person typing on a laptop keyboard overlayed with white padlock icons representing online security.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Staying%20safe%20while%20surfing%20the%20web-1080x675.jpg)
Protect Your Business Email From Being Compromised (BEC)
W-2 forms and other income tax document thefts caused massive headaches for the government and taxpayers years ago when stolen identity refund fraud (SIRF) was at its peak. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) lost billions of dollars, and taxpayer refunds were...
![Protect your privacy online Woman holding a laptop with a blue shield and lock illustrating digital risk protection from IDShield.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IDShield-protect-your-privacy-online-shield-lock-1080x666.jpg)
Online Privacy Has Never Been Easier
We can help protect your personal information by helping you keep your sensitive, private data more secure. Now, we can do that even better! Data brokers collect your valuable personal information when you use the internet, make online purchases, accept website...
![Old social media accounts Illustration of numberous olda and new social media icons such as myspace, Google Plus, LinkedIn, etc.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Dont-forget-about-those-old-accounts-and-profiles.png)
Don’t Forget About Those Old Accounts and Profiles
Myspace, Flickr, Hi5, Foursquare, Google Plus…. Remember those? During your time online it’s highly likely that you’ve left a few old accounts and profiles online. These can pose risks to both your reputation and your online security. Here’s how IDShield can help you....
![Free to work and communicate from everywhere Smiling woman looking at cell phone in cafe. She has a laptop open and a cup of coffee nearby.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/iStock-1194340258-1080x675.jpg)
Keep Your Private Information Safe On Dating Apps—The Do’s and Don’ts
Getting to know someone online means sharing your personal details. But you must be careful not to overshare because if you do, it could lead to your identity being stolen or your private data being sold. If you’re asking yourself, “is the Tinder app private?” or “are...
![travel sca,s Traveling woman in an airport wearing a backpack and looking at her cell phone to avoid a travel scam.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/travel-1080x675.jpg)
How to Spot and Avoid Travel Scams
Originally published March 3, 2021. Blog post updated for accuracy, comprehensiveness and freshness on June 27, 2024. As travel season peaks, fraudsters ramp up their efforts to deceive unsuspecting travelers. Being informed, proactive, and vigilant are ways to...
![Cybersecurity wedding success View from behind of a large wedding party outside in a garden by a fountain while a photo is being taken. Shows cybersecurity wedding success.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IDShield-cybersecurity-wedding-success-wedding-party-1080x675.jpg)
Cybersecurity Tips for Wedding Success
The big day is on the way! You’ve been planning your wedding with love and care, and finally all your hard work is about to pay off. Or perhaps you are a wedding guest, prepared to attend this exciting event. Whether you are a member of the bridal party or a...
![dating app Man looking at a woman's photo on his phone via a dating app](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IDShield-avoid-these-common-romance-scams-phone-profile-1080x675.jpg)
Avoid These Common Romance Scams
It’s a universal truth that most people want to find love. The problem is, online fraudsters use that desire against unsuspecting, vulnerable people on dating apps and dating sites. Not to burst Cupid’s bubble, but dating and romance scams are blooming like love in...
![Cybersecurity wedding success View from behind of a large wedding party outside in a garden by a fountain while a photo is being taken. Shows cybersecurity wedding success.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IDShield-cybersecurity-wedding-success-wedding-party-1080x675.jpg)
Cybersecurity Tips for Wedding Success
The big day is on the way! You’ve been planning your wedding with love and care, and finally all your hard work is about to pay off. Or perhaps you are a wedding guest, prepared to attend this exciting event. Whether you are a member of the bridal party or a...
![free WiFi A woman typing on her mobile phone as she sits in a cafe.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/WiFi-1080x675.jpg)
Public Wi-Fi May be Free But it Comes With a Price
Practically everyone uses public Wi-Fi. Most coffee shops, restaurants, gyms, planes, airports, and hotels offer it. It’s convenient and free. But the reality is, it comes with a price. Because when you use public Wi-Fi, you’re much more exposed to getting hacked,...
![Password Manager Screen showing the place to enter a password.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/PasswordManager.jpeg)
Why You Need Stronger Passwords
For every door that opens on the internet, there’s usually a “key” to open that door—in other words, a combination of username and password. And behind each door is a ton of personal information about you. If you use easy-to-hack passwords, reuse them across sites,...
![Child identity theft protection measures Mother, father, young boy and young girl, sitting on a sofa and preventing child identity theft using their laptop.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IDShield-child-identity-theft-family-1080x675.jpg)
Child Identity Theft: How Can Child Identity Theft Occur?
These days, almost everyone is online including our kids. Translation: children’s private information is more exposed than ever. Why? Because information about them is collected every time they play an online game on their tablet, text with their friends on their...
![emergency access for ID theft issues Smiling business woman talking on a mobile phone while typing on a laptop.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/247%20E%20Access-1080x675.jpg)
24/7 Emergency Access for Identity Theft Issues
Identity theft has been a problem for years. Coronavirus has created more new opportunities for ID thieves to steal your info. During the coronavirus pandemic, more people than ever before are using the internet to work, shop, and stay entertained while they remain...
![privacy A woman working in a coffee shop. She smiles as she navigates her smartphone.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/privacy-1080x675.jpg)
New IDShield Identity Theft Services For Digital Privacy & Cyberbullying
Anti-cyberbullying consultation and assistance IDShield now offers advanced services that provide comprehensive privacy and anti-cyberbullying consultation and assistance. In addition to data monitoring and threat alerts, members will receive one-on-one consultation...
![password cracking Person typing on a laptop. Text on screen reads: Connect to address 192.160.1.10; user name: *********; password: ***********; Access granted...; exited after 0.006146 seconds ; any key to continue . . .](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/password-cracking-getty-2021-900px.jpg)
How Secure is Your Password? Password Strength Tips
Are you a QWERTY fan? Maybe sports teams are more your thing—Cowboys42, anyone? If you haven't guessed yet, these are common password choices—ones that should be eternally banned for a variety of reasons. But the main reason to stop these lightweight password...
![login screen A man viewing a laptop login screen](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ManViewingLoginScreenOnLaptop.jpg)
Password Security: How to Make a Good Password
Are your passwords secure? If you’re guilty of reusing that same password of your dog’s name for every single account, you are not alone. That said, it might be time for an intervention on “password clinging.” Data breaches happen every day, and the sad fact is, they...
![modems and routers Smiling woman sitting on the floor in front of a sofa with a laptop and mobile phone.](https://www.idshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/modems%20and%20routers_0%20(1)-1080x675.jpg)
Two Factor Authentication: What it is and Why it’s Key in Your Online Security
Your digital privacy is more at risk than ever If the data breaches we have seen in the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that we should take our digital security seriously. And the number one reason breaches occur? Passwords. These days, the password with...
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