Freeze Your Credit Before Someone Else Uses It

Identity thieves need your credit file to open new accounts in your name, and by the time you notice a fraudulent loan or card, the damage is already done. A credit freeze closes that door in advance, at no cost, before any thief ever gets a chance to try.

Set one up with each of the major credit bureaus once, and lift it temporarily only when you actually apply for credit yourself — a loan, a new card, an apartment check. It takes about ten minutes total and stays in place until you decide otherwise, working silently in the background for years.