Protecting your family now requires more than securing your home and remaining aware of your physical surroundings. Smartphones, social media, online shopping, connected devices and public Wi-Fi can all expose information about who you are, where you live and what you do.
Digital preparedness does not mean withdrawing from the internet or refusing to provide personal information under every circumstance. It means understanding what information you are sharing, who is receiving it and whether there is a legitimate reason for that organization to have it.
Just as you assess the security of your home, you should periodically assess your digital habits and address the weaknesses that could make you an easier target.
What Is Digital Preparedness?
Digital preparedness is the practice of protecting your personal information, accounts and online activity before a problem occurs. It includes limiting unnecessary exposure, identifying suspicious requests and preparing to respond if someone gains access to your information.
The internet makes it possible to communicate, shop and manage finances from almost anywhere. That convenience also allows not only businesses and advertisers but potentially malicious actors to collect information about your interests and behavior. Websites, online purchases and social media activity can all contribute to a lasting digital record.
You cannot eliminate every digital risk. You can, however, make deliberate decisions about what you share and add layers of protection that may help you identify trouble sooner.
Think Before You Post on Social Media
A social media post may reveal more than you intended. A photograph can show your location, your daily routine, the possessions in your home or the people in your family.
This risk can be especially important for gun owners. Posting a photograph of yourself with a firearm may reveal that you own a gun, where you carry it and where you were when the photograph was taken. Even an innocent contest entry or check-in can give strangers information they do not need.
Before posting, consider whether the content reveals:
- Your home address or exact location
- When your home will be empty
- Your daily schedule
- Your workplace or your children’s school
- Firearms, valuables or security equipment in your home
- Personal details that could help someone guess a password or answer a security question
You should also review the privacy settings on your social media accounts. Privacy controls cannot eliminate every risk, but they can help limit who can see what you post.
Avoid Sharing Your Location in Real Time
Location tags, check-ins and geotagged photographs can tell others exactly where you are. More importantly, they can also reveal where you are not.
Posting that you are away on vacation may tell an opportunistic criminal that your home is empty. Wait until you return before sharing vacation photographs and stories.
The same principle applies to restaurants, concerts and other public places. Sharing your location in real time can reveal your routine and may give someone an opportunity to track your movements.
Use Strong, Unique Passwords
Passwords remain one of the most basic layers of online protection. Avoid using information that another person could discover through your social media accounts, such as names or birthdays of pets or family members.
Do not reuse one password across multiple accounts. If one platform is compromised, a criminal may attempt to use the same password to access your email, banking or social media accounts.
A reputable password manager can help you generate and store strong passwords rather than relying on simple combinations you can remember. You should also limit unnecessary browser extensions and keep browsers, operating systems and security software current.
Review your passwords periodically and change any that may have been exposed.
Be Cautious When Using Public Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is convenient but may not provide the same security as your home network. Be cautious about transmitting sensitive information when connected to a public network.
Avoid using public Wi-Fi to:
- Access financial accounts
- Enter payment information
- Submit sensitive personal details
- Conduct other activity you would not want intercepted
Connected devices can also create additional points of exposure. Smart speakers, phones, gaming systems and other internet-connected technology should be included in your household’s digital-safety plan. Review privacy settings, account histories and available security controls just as you would review the locks and alarms protecting your home.
Learn to Recognize Suspicious Links and Online Claims
Not everything online is trustworthy. Some websites publish misleading or provocative content because anger and curiosity generate clicks. Advertisements may also be designed to resemble articles, buttons or other legitimate content.
When a link or offer grabs your attention, do not immediately click it. Open a separate browser window and search for the claim, business or offer independently. A quick search may reveal reports that the offer is a scam.
Be particularly cautious when a message:
- Pressures you to act immediately
- Requests sensitive personal information
- Claims there is a problem with an account you did not know existed
- Offers a price or reward that seems unrealistic
- Comes from an unfamiliar email address or phone number
- Directs you to a website that does not match the organization it claims to represent
Phone numbers and email addresses can be spoofed or created temporarily. Verify the identity of the person or organization independently before sharing information or sending money.
Know Who You Are Dealing With Online
The internet makes it easy for almost anyone to appear credible. Before making a purchase, opening an account or sharing information, confirm that you are dealing with a reputable organization.
When shopping online, review the seller’s policies, reputation and contact information. Use a secure payment method, such as a credit card, that may provide additional protection if a purchase is fraudulent or an item never arrives.
The same principle applies when researching legal, financial or personal-safety questions. Look for information from recognized organizations, qualified professionals and sources that explain where their information comes from. Online advice may be outdated, incomplete or based on laws that do not apply in your state.
When Is It Appropriate to Share Personal Information?
Good digital preparedness does not mean refusing to provide personal information to anyone. It means distinguishing between an unnecessary request and information a legitimate organization needs to provide a service you requested.
There is an important difference between:
- Posting your location publicly vs. providing your address to a company shipping an order
- Sending account information to an unsolicited caller vs. entering it through your bank’s verified website
- Sharing identifying information with an unknown person vs. providing it directly to an identity protection service during secure enrollment
Before providing sensitive information, ask:
- Did I initiate this interaction?
- Do I know which organization is receiving the information?
- Am I using the organization’s verified website or enrollment process?
- Does the requested information make sense for the service being provided?
- Can I independently confirm the request before proceeding?
Being careful about your information remains good advice. The goal is not to avoid every legitimate use of personal data. It is to keep control over when and why you provide it.
Why Identity Monitoring Requires Identifying Information
Identity monitoring differs from general online browsing or social media use. The service must be able to associate suspicious activity with the person it is protecting.
That is why identity protection enrollment may require information such as your name, address, date of birth or Social Security number. Without enough information to identify you, the service cannot effectively monitor for activity connected to your identity.
Providing this information directly through a verified enrollment process is not the same as responding to an unexpected email, clicking a questionable advertisement or giving information to an unsolicited caller. You are intentionally providing it to a known service for a specific protective purpose.
You should still reach the enrollment page through a trusted source rather than through an unexpected message or outside link.
Add Identity Monitoring to Your Preparedness Plan
Strong passwords, careful social media habits and greater awareness can reduce your exposure. They cannot guarantee that your information will never be compromised.
Identity theft may result from activity outside of your immediate control, including a compromised database or the misuse of information that was previously exposed. Monitoring adds another layer by looking for suspicious activity and alerting you when something may require your attention.
Like a home alarm, identity monitoring cannot prevent every incident. It can help alert you when something appears wrong and provide support if a problem occurs.
LifeLock Identity Theft Protection for USCCA Members
Eligible USCCA Members now receive LifeLock identity theft protection as a benefit of their membership at no additional cost.
Gold and Platinum Members receive LifeLock Standard, which includes:
- Social Security number and identity alerts
- Dark web monitoring
- One-bureau credit monitoring
- Stolen-funds and personal-expense reimbursement within plan limits
- Coverage for eligible lawyers and experts
- Identity restoration assistance
Elite Members receive LifeLock Ultimate Plus, which includes expanded monitoring for all three credit bureaus, bank and investment account activity, social media activity and additional reimbursement coverage within plan limits.
Qualifying spouse memberships are also eligible. Silver Members and children are not currently included in the benefit.
How to Activate Your LifeLock Benefit
LifeLock protection is not active until you complete enrollment.
To activate your benefit:
- Sign in to your USCCA Member account.
- Go to Perks & Discounts.
- Select Activate My LifeLock Protection.
- Complete the profile questions in your USCCA account.
- Continue to LifeLock and complete its enrollment form.
Merely opening the activation page does not complete enrollment. Coverage begins only after you finish the LifeLock form. Members should also turn off any VPN before beginning because a VPN may interfere with the enrollment process.
If you already pay for a separate LifeLock subscription, contact LifeLock before activating the USCCA benefit to discuss your options.
Make Digital Safety a Family Practice
Digital preparedness works best when everyone in the household understands it. Children should know not to share their location, home address or family routines online. Parents should review the privacy and safety controls available on children’s phones, computers, gaming systems and social media accounts.
Talk about suspicious messages and online scams before someone encounters one. Make sure family members know to ask for help rather than respond to a questionable request.
Review your digital-safety plan the same way you review home security or emergency plans. Technology, apps and online threats change, so the conversation should continue as your family’s needs change.
Build Layers of Digital Protection
No single habit or service provides complete protection. Digital preparedness comes from building layers:
- Limit what you share publicly.
- Avoid revealing your location in real time.
- Use strong, unique passwords.
- Keep devices and software updated.
- Verify links, requests and online sources.
- Share sensitive information only through trusted channels for a legitimate purpose.
- Monitor for signs that your information is being misused.
Being cautious online and enrolling in a trusted identity protection service are not conflicting ideas. Both are part of controlling your information and preparing for problems before they occur.
Eligible USCCA Members can add another layer to that plan by activating their included LifeLock identity theft protection through the USCCA Member Dashboard.
This article is a compilation of previous blog posts and Concealed Carry Magazine articles authored by Dawn Albrecht, Ed Combs, Anthony DeWitt, John Caile, Chip Eberhart, K.L. Jamison and Sara Ryan.
