How to Stop Identity Theft

Identity theft almost always starts with information that's already exposed — your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number pieced together from brokers and breaches. Here's how to cut off the raw material thieves need.

Reduce your exposed data

The less of your personal information is floating around, the harder you are to impersonate.

Run a free scan to find brokers and breaches exposing your data.
Opt out of data brokers and delete unused accounts.

Lock down your credit and accounts

Make it physically hard to open accounts in your name.

Freeze your credit with all three bureaus (free).
Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere.
Use a password manager and unique passwords.

Monitor for new exposure

Identity risk changes constantly as new breaches happen and brokers re-list you.

Watch for breach notifications tied to your email.
Footprint Finder re-scans monthly and flags new exposure.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best way to prevent identity theft?

Freeze your credit, enable two-factor authentication, and minimize your exposed personal data by opting out of data brokers and deleting old accounts. Reducing exposure removes the raw material thieves rely on.

How does removing my info from data brokers help?

Brokers expose the exact details — address, birth date, relatives — that thieves use to answer security questions and open accounts. Removing those listings makes you a harder target.