5 ways to protect your digital footprint—and identity—in 2026
Investing in preventative measures with Equifax can help protect your information online.
Many people tend to think of identity theft as a short-term issue. Cash might go missing from an account, or some fraudulent activity shows up on a credit card.
It’s annoying and inconvenient, but not necessarily life-ruining. Right?
Well, no. Identity theft can present several serious, long-term problems.
If it’s not handled rapidly—or ideally, prevented—it can compromise your ability to take out loans, buy a house or make other financial moves.
So today, we’re taking a look at some of the ways you can protect yourself online.
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1. Use a VPN
A lot of people already use VPNs to access geo-blocked content.
But did you know they can also be great for helping to protect your online privacy?
Using a VPN can help protect your IP address and online activity. It can also help prevent people from tracking private information—like login details.
So even if you’re just browsing casually online, it can be worth investing in a VPN.
Equifax Complete Protection includes access to NordVPN to help your information stay protected.
2. Opt for a password manager
In an era where data breaches occur with frightening regularity, you don’t want your passwords compromised.
Fortunately, solutions are available. Equifax Complete Protection features a password manager.
Opting for a password manager can allow you to keep your passwords in one place—while helping to keep them safe beneath multiple layers of encryption.
Rather than needing to remember a multitude of passwords, you can just remember one instead.
This kind of feature can help make your computer less vulnerable to outside eyes or malicious tools like keyloggers.
The Digital Domino Effect
Did you know that it can take just one leaked password to compromise your accounts?
This is because:
- Many people use the same password for multiple accounts
- It can allow hackers to figure out your password format
- People can gain access to key accounts, like emails, and reset other passwords
This creates a domino effect that can have serious consequences. So make sure you use the tools in this article to stay safe online!
3. Use an identity protection service
The dark web—perhaps deservedly—has a bit of a salacious reputation.
Although there are lots of valid reasons for people to use it (for example, journalists in countries with poor freedom of the press), it’s no secret that it’s also home to a lot of shady goings-on.
This can include people reselling your private information and data.
But if you don’t use the dark web yourself—and odds are you probably don’t—how do you keep track of this?
Using an identity protection service can help keep you aware of breaches.
Equifax Complete Protection features dark web monitoring, so you don’t have to trawl through the unpleasant depths of the internet.
So if the information you provided shows up on the dark web, you’ll be notified. Then you can take action—like putting a fraud alert on your credit report or updating your passwords.
4. Device protection
In 2026, most of us are glued to the internet, thanks to smartphones and tablets.
This can be great for convenience. But it can also pose a risk for exposing your identity to the wider world.
With this in mind, Equifax Complete Protection has device protection that helps protect you from malware, ransomware and other viruses that can attack your devices to steal your personal data.
And of course—make sure you lock your devices when you’re not using them. Even basic things like this can help keep your info safe.
5. Invest in restoration services
We’ve talked about some of the ways to prevent issues.
But what if your information is compromised?
In addition to the preventative tools it provides, Equifax Complete Protection allows you to get help from dedicated ID restoration specialists if your data is compromised.
You also have access to up to $1 million in identity theft insurance (not available in Quebec). This can be used to help cover certain out-of-pocket expenses related to restoring your identity.
Conclusion
Remember—when it comes to internet safety, you can’t just “set it and forget it.” Regularly updating your password and using digital tools can help you avoid potential issues.
Having a toolset like Equifax Complete Protection can help you avoid issues—and if problems do occur, you can bounce back more easily.
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