Identity theft is a complex crime. It usually starts with some grain of information about you, and a thief will use that grain to obtain another one, and another one, etc. Once he’s got enough information, the thief will be able to impersonate you, gain access to your credit accounts and create havoc in your life.

The key to preventing identity theft is to pay attention to the details, such as what you carry in your wallet and how you create passwords. These can make all the difference in the world when it comes to preventing identity theft. Passwords, in particular, can be a huge factor.

Your passwords online really are the key to your identity. Behind the passwords is personal information that’s worth a fortune to the right buyer. If you’re protecting that information with your date of birth, your child’s date of birth or your anniversary, you’re not as protected as you could be.

When creating your password, be sure to use letters and numbers; at least eight characters. Don’t use whole words. One of the best ways to create a strong password is to think of a phrase that can be represented numerically. Think in terms of personalized license plates.

Avoid sequences and repeated characters. Longer isn’t better if the letters and numbers you use are sequential or repeated. Use the entire keyboard when creating your password, and include symbols.

And finally, don’t use the same passwords everywhere. Even a strong password is useless if it’s cracked. Create a different password on every Web site that you access, even though it’s a lot of work.

But making things harder for identity thieves is the name of the game when it comes to the safety of you and your family.

Tags: preventing identity theft

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