Be careful what information you give over the phone, especially if you aren’t expecting a call.
5 steps to take control of your data
ChatGPT
Every day, it feels like there’s another company saying, “Oops, we lost your info.” Feel helpless? Don’t. I’ve got some smart steps that help lock things down and keep creeps from using your info against you. Let’s jump in.
🔒 Change your username and passwords
If hackers get one of your passwords, they’ll try it everywhere. Don’t make it easy for them.
👉 Make it tough to crack:
- Go long and random: Aim for at least 16 characters with upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
- Use a passphrase: “BigKimK0mandoF@n!” beats “abc123.”
- Lie on security questions: Your mom’s maiden name is a Google search away. Give a fake answer and jot ‘em down somewhere safe.
🔑 Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA)
You’ve probably used this already. It’s that code you get via text or using your fingerprint to log in. MFA makes you 99% less likely to be hacked.
Set it up:
- Android: Open your Google Account > Security. Under “How you sign in to Google,” choose Turn on 2-Step Verification and follow the prompts.
- iPhone: Go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Two-Factor Authentication. Select Add a Trusted Phone Number and follow the steps.
✅ Pro tip: Lock down your payment apps like CashApp, Venmo and Zelle. Here’s how.
🧊 Freeze your credit
This one’s big. If your name, address or Social Security number were exposed, a scammer could open a credit card or take out a loan in your name.
How to deal with a cyberstalker
Let me tell you, more and more victims of cyberstalking are reaching out to me for advice using my Ask Kim page. Here’s one note I received recently from P.W. in Oklahoma:
“I’ve been cyberstalked for three years. I recently discovered it was my roommate. I moved out and he launched another attack. He’s on my and my fiance’s phones, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth — everything. He has stolen financial data, pictures, erased accounts, taken over emails and harassed me through VOIP. … He admitted to sitting outside our house all night. I thought he was spying on me. Now I know he was also gaining access to my Wi-Fi. I can’t do this anymore and need expert advice/help terribly.”
November 16th, 2024
Did Starlink mess with the election? Don’t fall for this wild rumor spreading online. Plus, AI-powered machine guns are now on the battlefield, you can sell your house without a realtor, and Social Security scams are popping up everywhere – be on the lookout!
Gold bars to nowhere: A Pennsylvania woman lost a whopping $800,000 to scammers posing as bank and SSA agents after a fake pop-up said her Social Security number was on porn sites. They made her believe she was “helping” an investigation, convincing her to convert her money to gold and hand it off to couriers. Ouch.
Lost Social Security card? Starting this summer, the Social Security Administration will let people with “my Social Security” accounts see their full Social Security number online. It keeps your physical card safe from theft, but might open a can of worms courtesy of hackers. Don’t forget to secure it with two-factor authentication!
🥷 Another gold bar scam: A Florida woman lost over $280,000 after scammers tricked her into thinking her Social Security number was compromised. A fake federal officer told her to protect her assets by buying gold from a bullion store. They arranged a delivery, gave her a secret “password” and then vanished. PSA: No legit agency asks for gift cards, crypto or undercover missions.
Keep an eye on your Social Security payouts: Hackers are breaking into retirement accounts and changing the payment info to cash in for themselves. It’s shady and happening more than you’d think. Take a sec today, log in to your SS account and make sure everything looks right. Better safe than suddenly broke.
Social Security scam warning
Good news for the 72 million people on Social Security: there’s a 2.5% increase starting in January. Bad news: scammers are going after you.
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