Beware of 'a massive attack by hackers and identity thieves': how to protect yourself
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How many times a day do you log into password-protected accounts like online banking, Netflix, or even Facebook? Do you ever wonder whether the passwords themselves are secure?
Guess what, they’re probably not — all a hacker needs to do is crack the code, and your entire identity can be compromised in an instant.
Why identity theft—and why now?
Identity theft is always a threat. But during a worldwide pandemic, your information is especially vulnerable. The Federal Trade Commission recently said it’s received more than 18,000 reports of fraud related to COVID-19, and Americans have already been bilked of $13.4 million.
“We are now the focus of a massive attack by hackers and identity thieves, because they prey on vulnerability and distraction,” Adam Levin, cyber security expert and founder of CyberScout, told Yahoo Life.
When hackers gain access to your devices and accounts, they can wreak all kinds of havoc, from opening up new credit card accounts to draining existing bank accounts.
The power of secure passwords
One of the easiest ways for hackers to get their hands on your sensitive information is by stealing your passwords. The FTC says that creating “long and strong” passwords is crucial to your online security.
Not only should passwords be complex, says the FTC and Levin, but they should be unique to each site—in other words, stop using the same old password for every account. But it’s practically impossible to create airtight, individual passwords for all of your online accounts and manage to remember them all, right?
That’s where a great password manager comes into play. Levin says a password manager should be your secret weapon against fraud, especially if you’re kind of lazy about passwords.
LastPass Premium, the industry’s leading password manager
LastPass Premium is the password manager that’s going to change the entire game for you.
Install LastPass Premium, and the software will create passwords for every single account you’re signed up to—from your credit card accounts to your email, social media, streaming services, or any account that retains your payment information. It will then store the passwords securely across all of your devices.
Try LastPass Premium free for 30 days. The site won’t even require your credit card information until you decide to subscribe. After that, it’s $1.99 a month for ultimate password protection.
Shop it: LastPass Premium, try it free for 30 days (no credit card required for trial) then $1.99 per month, subscriptions.yahoo.com
A closer look at LastPass Premium
Here’s how LastPass Premium works on a granular level: Let’s say you’re creating a password to obtain sensitive medical records online. The password manager will create a complex, rock-solid password that hackers couldn’t possibly touch. It will inventory the password and automatically log you in from your laptop, phone, tablet—whatever you use—every time you need to access the site.
If you’d rather create your own password for a website, you’re free to do that. LastPass Premium will remember those, too. “The only thing you have to remember is the password to your password manager,” as Levin says.
Equifax says that once you do create your passwords, remember to change them “as frequently as you can reasonably manage,” especially now.
Sign up for LastPass Premium now
Now’s your chance to empower yourself with LastPass Premium, and give yourself online peace of mind. Sign up, get your free 30 days, and breathe a sigh of relief knowing your passwords are protected inside a virtual fortress—and so is your identity.
Shop it: LastPass Premium, try it free for 30 days (no credit card required for trial) then $1.99 per month, subscriptions.yahoo.com
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