Here’s why and how to better protect your online identity (and that of your family)

With more than 200,000 victims of identity theft each year in France, it is imperative to protect your personal information as much as possible. Based on this observation, Norton has developed a service specifically dedicated to identity protection and restoration. Called Norton Identity Advisor Plus, it provides all the tools and support needed to monitor data leaks on the dark web, and help users who are victims of identity theft.

Identity theft has become a major security problem. The government has taken the lead by launching the Easy Watermark service in August 2023, which allows you to add a watermark to sensitive documents in order to be able to share them securely and prevent them from being misused for fraudulent purposes. Whether in the context of a property rental search, an application, a vehicle rental, we all have to share important documents one day or another (passport, vital card, proof of address). , RIB…) with third parties.

Common procedures, but which are not always without risks. In the wrong hands, these personal documents can indeed be used to steal a person’s identity. Likewise, phishing attacks that perfectly imitate the visual identity of a company or organization known and recognized for stealing personal information are among the preferred tools of usurpers. One thing is certain, no one is safe from risks.

What is identity theft?

A true social phenomenon, identity theft can cause considerable damage. This wrongdoing occurs when a person uses another person’s personal information without their consent for fraudulent purposes. This information may include a name, address, social security number, credit card number, banking information, and other details that may identify an individual.

With this data, the usurper can commit numerous fraudulent acts and, for example, open a bank account, order credit cards, withdraw money, take out bank loans, make online purchases, apply for social benefits, create fake profiles on social networks, disseminating compromising information, etc. Needless to say, these misdeeds can have very serious financial and personal consequences for the victims. Solving these types of problems without the help of specialists can also be very time-consuming and tedious.

How can we better protect ourselves against the theft of personal information?

As evidenced by the success of the Easy Watermark service launched in beta in August 2023, more and more people are becoming aware of the risks they run by sharing sensitive personal information without taking precautions. Barely a month after its launch, the service already has more than 3,000 requests for watermarks per day to protect documents and this figure continues to increase. This type of initiative makes it possible to raise awareness among as many people as possible about the risks of identity theft, particularly following data leaks or the sharing of personal information online and on social networks.

There are different ways to better protect yourself from identity theft. To begin with, it is very important to share your personal information (date of birth, social security number, credit card number, etc.) when it is really essential only with trusted third parties. You should always be wary of requests for personal information by email, SMS, social networks or telephone, as most of the time these are extortion attempts. We can’t say it enough, but it’s better to avoid taking the easy route by using the same password on different services. A practice which unfortunately still remains very common.

With the growing number of online accounts, it is becoming impossible to remember all your usernames and passwords. The best solution is to use a password manager like Password Manager (included in Norton Identity Advisor Plus) to manage and store strong passwords that include different character types. To benefit from an additional layer of security on your online accounts, it is also advisable to activate two-factor authentication where possible. Finally, it is better to give as little personal information as possible on social networks. It is in fact on the latter that cybercriminals glean and cross-reference the information they may be missing to usurp a person’s identity.

Online security requires respecting digital hygiene rules such as always keeping backups of your data, or even protecting your terminals using a known and recognized antivirus security suite such as Norton 360. Without forget about an identity protection system like Norton Identity Advisor Plus which not only allows you to monitor possible leaks of personal data and be alerted in the event of a problem, but also offers the help of an expert to support you in the steps to take to restore your identity.

What to do in case of identity theft?

Norton Identity Advisor Plus provides all the help you need in case of identity theft. Subscription includes help from an identity restoration specialist. When a user notices that they are a victim of identity theft, they can call a dedicated telephone number (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday) to seek help from a Norton expert.

After creating a file, the specialist guides the user to carry out all the telephone and administrative procedures necessary to try to restore their identity. Norton promises to support victims step by step until their case is closed.

Why use Norton Identity Advisor Plus?

With Norton Identity Advisor Plus, the antivirus solutions specialist helps users better protect their personal information on a daily basis. To do this, it monitors in particular whether they appear on Dark Web sites and forums. When the service detects a data leak, it automatically alerts the user by email. If the latter subsequently discovers that he is the victim of identity theft, he must then contact the supplier’s catering service who will assist him in carrying out the necessary steps.

It can sometimes take a long time for some people to realize that they have been victims of identity theft. With Norton Identity Advisor Plus, users have the advantage of being able to be immediately alerted in the event of a data leak on the Dark Web. This makes it possible both to know what information has been corrupted, but also to take the necessary measures to limit the risks by, for example, changing passwords. Thanks to its Dark Web Monitoring, the service ensures permanent monitoring of different types of personal information: email addresses (up to 5), telephone number (1), online game identifiers (10), or even numbers bank card (10).

Not forgetting Social Media Monitoring, which is responsible for continuously examining suspicious activities (attempts at cyberharassment, hate speech, changes to account settings, etc.) on social networks: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter (X). Besides the password manager Password Manager, the program finally provides assistance in case of wallet theft. Customer support advises users on the steps to take to cancel and replace important documents such as credit cards, driving licenses, or identity cards, for example. A comprehensive service which on the one hand considerably reduces the risks of being a victim of identity theft, and on the other hand helps to restore one’s identity in the event of an incident.

Norton Identity Advisor Plus is integrated into the high-end Norton 360 Advanced security suite (€39.99/year for the first year), or sold separately (€34.99/year for the first year).