In less time than it will take to read this sentence, someone in the US will become a victim of identity theft.
Every 4.9 seconds, someone files a loss claim with regulators.1
But often overlooked is the emotional toll identity theft can take on victims. That part can be more difficult to measure and often requires time to heal.
Following identity theft, victims are overwhelmed by stress, fear, and the sense of being violated. They have to come to terms with the fact that they have little recourse when attempting to recover the money lost following a scam, and this can lead to feelings of helplessness and shame.
But, as Ben Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is why we encourage everyone to take charge of managing their online accounts.
Who’s Who with Security Practices2
The good news regarding poor online security practices is that you can change your approach tomorrow!
Take Charge with Two Key Steps
Change your password: If you can’t remember the last time you changed your password, it might be a good time to consider revisiting your approach. Remember, online thieves are opportunists, so anything you can do to make your accounts a bit more secure may prompt them to look for another target. You might see the dentist twice a year, so why not make a follow up appointment with yourself to change selected passwords, especially on financial accounts.
Enable two-step authentication: Yes, two-step authentication can be a bit difficult. Yes, it can slow down the log in process. But despite all the challenges, it might be a good idea to check into two-step authentication for certain accounts. Two-step authentication often requires something you know (like your password), and something you have to produce, like a code sent to your phone as a text message. Two-step authentication makes it more difficult for online thieves who have only one or the other of the two steps.
“We need to realize that the world, fleshly desires, and Satan will attempt to destroy us any way he can,” writes Mick Owens, author of the book Diamond of Life: The Five P’s of Success and Significance.
A few years ago, at our cfd Adviser annual summit in Kokomo, we had a presenter from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who explained that cyber criminals are opportunistic. They will attack thousands of accounts at once and look to take advantage of the few.
By revising your passwords and enabling two-step authentication, you might be able to increase your chances that cyber criminals will pass you by and move on to another target who has fewer defenses in place.
- Security.org, October 13, 2025
- Forbes.com, August 25, 2025
