How do I go about safeguarding my private information? - email, address, ip ss number, etc.

[Vindeo]

A while back, I caught someone in realtime changing my PayPal email, they had already changed it but it didn't log me out on my phone app, I quickly changed it back and logged out all other devices. Come to find out, my main email has been a part of more than 10 major data breaches.

How can I be better at avoiding things like this in future?

Steps I have taken so far:

-changed all my emails to a new email covered with a hide my email alias
-VPN is set to always on, blocks connections without VPN
-changed all my passwords to unique generated passwords that I manage with login manager

Any advice?

 

[rel=alternate]

The password part is the main way to go imo. I've been part of multiple breaches, but my passwords are always different, so it's useless.

It also does help to segregate emails. Use one email only for sensitive/admin stuff, the other for personal stuff.

Then it's the obvious things about not being a retard and falling for fishing emails and the like.

Pretty sure there is a privacy guide as well somewhere here, which also applies to personal security.

 

[gagabobo1997]

Those steps are already pretty good.
You have to ask though, protect your info against who?
Highly competent attackers/nation states probably won't have much trouble finding you no matter what you do.
If you want to protect against random hackers and scammers, what you are doing is good. Just be smart.
If you want to protect against forums like the kiwi farms, the best way is to just not draw their attention.

 

[Vindeo]

Then it's the obvious things about not being a retard and falling for fishing emails and the like.

Ran into one today, I am expecting a package and I got a text about one, opened the link and there was a spelling error.
I'm generally pretty good at catching things like this, also I just thought it was weird, I don't think USPS does this. The site looked so clean and legit tho. It was pretty impressive.

protect your info against who?

People stealing money from me and/or my credit.

I've had to cancel my credit card twice before, bc I seen charges for things in like grocery stores on the other side of the state in a town I've never even been to. Someone hacked my Instacart account once and ordered groceries to their house in Georgia, for about a year someone was RELENTLESSLY trying to get into my Venmo account send 2FA emails. (I can't login to that Venmo account bc I changed my phone number, have to verify with email and phone to get into it). Then there was my PayPal account.

I searched my info on those data breach sites and I found my Social but they won't match it to my name, I don't think my social was in any breach bc I read it is possible for someone with a different name to have the same social. I just want to protect things like that.

 

[rel=alternate]

I'm generally pretty good at catching things like this, also I just thought it was weird, I don't think USPS does this. The site looked so clean and legit tho. It was pretty impressive.

Best tip here is to always look at the URL. What website are you on? Is it the official website? What happens if you go to the root domain?

These scams are pretty easy to identify if you do this, since these are always shitty landing pages.

 

[Vindeo]

Best tip here is to always look at the URL. What website are you on? Is it the official website? What happens if you go to the root domain?

These scams are pretty easy to identify if you do this, since these are always shitty landing pages.

the link in the text was a bit.ly url.

The landing page URL was just a bunch of letters. It wasnt the post office website that's for sure.

 

[Asian tech support]

post it in the thread we can help you safeguard it. safety in numbers, after all.

 

[Vindeo]

post it in the thread we can help you safeguard it. safety in numbers, after all.

Post what?

 

[Asian tech support]

Post what?

your personal information saar

now my joke is retarded

 

[Hellwalker]

I recommend using an email forwarder. They are used to create email aliases that forward to your main inbox. That's mean that if a breach to a service that you use happens, then your main email (Personally identifiable) won't be affected. You can then just switch to a new alias, blow the old one away, and continue on (If you don't question a services security practices which led them to getting breached, at least). It's also useful for forgoing old accounts on or signing up to services that are a bitch to get an account deleted from. I use Simplelogin. You get 10 free alias's standard. If you get upgrade, you get more aliases and more features. Luckily, I don't use a lot of things so I have no need to upgrade.

 

[rofllmaoxdwow]

As you have stated that you are mostly interested in your financial security I suggest that you stay away from the crypto scene. It's an absolute clusterfuck filled with people trying to scam you since cryptocurrencies don't have a central authority for you to complain to if you're in trouble. Usually its a pain in the ass to get your money back even if you know who the thieves are.

If you live in the US, some services such as privacy.com allow you to create virtual credit cards that I think are worth looking into.

If you want to do some further reading on cybersecurity or card fraud I recommend you read the Cybercrime general threads. (2) @Robo Sonichu is a frequent poster in that thread who has done some writeups on cybercriminals. He may give you better advice than what I have to offer.

Edit: Added newer cybercrime general thread since I forgot that the original OP went inactive.

 

[Vindeo]

I recommend using an email forwarder. They are used to create email aliases that forward to your main inbox. That's mean that if a breach to a service that you use happens, then your main email (Personally identifiable) won't be affected. You can then just switch to a new alias, blow the old one away, and continue on (If you don't question a services security practices which led them to getting breached, at least). It's also useful for forgoing old accounts on or signing up to services that are a bitch to get an account deleted from. I use Simplelogin. You get 10 free alias's standard. If you get upgrade, you get more aliases and more features. Luckily, I don't use a lot of things so I have no need to upgrade.

So I bought the Proton Unlimited and It came with the Password manager, VPN, and all the alias stuff as I mentioned above that I started using. Solid advice tho, thank you!

I suggest that you stay away from the crypto scene. It's an absolute clusterfuck filled with people trying to scam you since cryptocurrencies don't have a central authority for you to complain to if you're in trouble. Usually its a pain in the ass to get your money back even if you know who the thieves are.

I spend my time in the Au/Ag thread, I don't really mess around with crypto. I think the only time I've messed with it was to give josh money and I tried the gambling stuff bossmanjack does. It's kind of a pain in the ass.

If you live in the US, some services such as privacy.com allow you to create virtual credit cards that I think are worth looking into.

This is really good to know, I'll definitely check this out.

If you want to do some further reading on cybersecurity or card fraud I recommend you read the Cybercrime general threads. (2) @Robo Sonichu is a frequent poster in that thread who has done some writeups on cybercriminals. He may give you better advice than what I have to offer.

I assumed there was a thread somewhere. I was having a hard time finding tho, thanks for linking.

 

[Grub]

the link in the text was a bit.ly url.

If you get a text with a bit.ly url it's a scam 100% of the time no matter what you're waiting for.