Want to freeze your credit after a nationwide data breach? Here’s how

I considered freezing my credit for weeks before I did it. As a personal finance editor who covers identity theft, I knew it wouldn’t happen. Making it more difficult for cybercriminals Opening a new credit account in my name – but that would also make it difficult for me.

When you freeze your credit, you have to manually unfreeze or “thaw” your credit when you want to apply for a new credit card, car loan or mortgage.

The credit freeze process is not that simple either. It involves registering individual accounts with Three major credit bureaus in the United StatesEquifax, TransUnion and Experian can freeze your credit manually online, by phone or by mail.

But there are two benefits that convinced me to do this. First, freezing your credit card is completely free. Second, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’ve successfully neutralized a key tool in the identity thief’s playbook.

Why did you freeze my credit reports?

Data breaches happen more often than you think. Chances are, your data has been compromised at least once. This year alone, Ticketmaster and AT&T reported data breaches that affected millions of customers. And an alleged breach of background checker National Public Data may have compromised the personal data of 2.9 billion people, according to a new lawsuit.

I have recently noticed an increase in the number of scam messages I receive on my phone and in my email inbox. Most of them were easy to spot, but some were well thought out.

I received a variety of messages inviting me to eat ribs and even offering me new job opportunities. This flood of messages, phone calls, and emails made me think that at any moment—while I was distracted or rushing back to my office for an upcoming meeting—I could be the victim of a scam that could result in my identity being stolen.

Freezing my credit card is one of the best ways to protect your data and money, but it’s not foolproof. Scammers and identity thieves can still access my personal information through existing accounts. However, I can limit the damage.

Read more: 5 Signs Your Personal Data Is on the Dark Web – and What You Can Do About It

How I Freezed My Credit with TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian

When you freeze your credit, you’ll need to do so with each of the three major credit bureaus. This requires setting up accounts with each — a process that takes about 30 minutes online. Generally, you’re asked for the same information: your name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Then, you need to complete two-factor authentication via text or email.

TransUnion and Equifax provide dedicated tabs on your dashboard to freeze your balance after you create an account. A few clicks, and you’re ready to go.

Experian makes this option a little more difficult to find. After a little digging, I found two ways to activate the free security freeze.

You can hover over “Credit” on your dashboard and click Experian Credit Lock — A paid offer from Experian that works similarly to a credit freeze, but among other features, it instantly locks your credit report. On this page, you’ll see a free “Security Freeze” option.

You can also scroll down the page while logged in and click Experian Credit Lock to get to the same page. All three credit bureaus will confirm your credit freeze via email.

If you don’t want to create accounts online, you can contact each credit bureau to freeze your credit. Here are the numbers for each credit bureau:

• Trans Union – 800-916-8800
• Equifax – (888) 298-0045
• Experian – 888-397-3742

After you request a credit freeze, each bureau must freeze your credit within one business day. When you need to unfreeze your credit, Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax must unfreeze your credit within an hour. By mail, it can take up to three business days to freeze and unfreeze your credit.

Freezing your credit will not solve all of your identity theft concerns.

Setting up a credit freeze was simple enough. But I won’t tell you that freezing your credit is convenient. Here are some downsides to consider:

You will have to unfreeze your credit each time you open a new account.

If you’re thinking about applying for a new credit card, looking for your first home or considering getting a loan to buy a new car, it’s probably best to wait until you open the account before freezing your credit.

Freezing your credit prevents cybercriminals or identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in your name. But it also stops you. To open a new credit account, you’ll need to log into your accounts or contact each of the three credit bureaus and temporarily unfreeze your credit.

false sense of security

Freezing your credit card is a good step to protect your identity, but it can still be stolen.

You might consider signing up for an identity theft protection service. Individual plans typically start at $7 to $15 depending on the level of financial and identity monitoring you want. With an identity theft protection plan, you can monitor your credit, bank accounts, and the dark web for your personal data or identifiable family information.

Instead, take advantage of the free tools available to you. Review your monthly credit card and bank statements. You can also view your medical claims history online and in your credit report. You can download your free credit report at Annual Credit Report.com.

aura

CNET’s Choice for Best Identity Theft Service

Freeze your balance and protect your sensitive data.

It will not stop spam messages.

Unfortunately, if scammers have your phone number or email, you won’t be able to stop them from trying to scam you and steal the money in your existing accounts.

It is best to block phone numbers and email addresses from unknown senders every time you receive a strange message. You should also take a minute to read the messages carefully before clicking on any link.

It will not put a limit on new credit offers.

A credit freeze also won’t eliminate spam and pre-screened offers you may receive. The purpose of a credit freeze is to prevent hard inquiries on your credit, such as rent requests or student loan applications. You can still expect to receive offers from credit card companies, insurance companies, and more.

Financial institutions you already have relationships with and debt collectors can also look at your credit. Under special circumstances, the federal, state, and local governments can do so as well.

On the plus side, credit monitoring companies like Credit Karma and Credit Sesame are still able to provide you with your updated credit scores.

You still need good password hygiene.

Even if your credit card is frozen, you should still practice good password hygiene. Make sure you don’t use the same login information across multiple sites — using the same login information is a common tactic used by cybercriminals.

If keeping track of your passwords becomes a burden, consider paying for a password manager.

It will not protect your bank account information.

Even if you freeze your credit, it is still your responsibility to protect your bank account information from fraudsters.

If you accidentally provide any account numbers or login information to cybercriminals, contact your bank immediately and change your password.

In the end, I’m glad I froze my credit.

There are pros and cons to freezing credit. But with no plans to open a new account anytime soon, it was worth it for me. I also feel safer after doing it. It’s nice to know I’ve ruined any cybercriminals’ plans.

Sure, the spam keeps coming. But I don’t mind being a watchdog over my finances. I’ve made it a habit to check my bank and credit card statements regularly.