EASY KEYS TO protecting your identity

Keep your email & social media accounts safe from hackers with these savvy expert tips

- LINDSAY BOSSLETT

Pinpoint forgotten accounts

The average person has more than 90 online accounts, including social media and service providers. “The more places you have your personal information, the more opportunities hackers have to access it,” says Harman Singh, director of cybersecurity at Cyphere (TheCyphere.com). But pinpointing these accounts is simple. “Do a search of your inbox for ‘new account,’ ‘account confirmation’ or ‘welcome.’ This will pull up old emails from when you created a new account.” Then just close down those accounts.

Also smart: Try using free services like HaveIBeenPwned.com and JustDelete.me, which scan your online history and locate old accounts for you.

Remove yourself from public records