Why is it so important to protect your identity, especially online? Ask Spidey. ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ picks up where it left Tom Holland’s Peter Parker off in ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’.
Peter Parker can no longer protect his identity since the public has discovered that Peter Parker is, in fact, Spider-Man. The consequences and fallout are life-altering. That’s why we’re taking a leaf from the story and talking about how important it is to protect your identity online.
The Spidey backstory
And for the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero’s identity and personal life are out in the open. Now Peter Parker is in dilemma and his superhero responsibilities are brought into conflict with his normal life. What’s worse is that his identity outbreak puts those he loves and cares about most at risk, especially Michelle James, played by Zendaya Coleman.
Peter (Tom Holland) enlists Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to help restore his secret. The spell instead tears a hole in their world. What next? The most powerful villains who have fought a Spider-Man in any universe come to this one. This is Peter’s biggest challenge yet, which will not only alter his own future but the future of the Multiverse.
The threat is real
Yes, the risk of identity theft and exposure is real. It can vary, depending on factors like which state you reside in and where you park your car at the airport. Peter Parker did not experience identity theft, but his experience (from what we’ve seen in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ trailer) taught us the danger of identity exposure.
Reality check, today identity exposure can lead to identity theft. While you may think that your identity is invincible, news and stories about data breaches and hacking have us all looking for ways to protect ourselves from identity theft. Luckily, there are identity theft protection service providers like Beem to help you protect yourself online.
Safeguard yourself with Beem
Beem has all the tools to protect you. Apart from emergency funds for you to protect yourself from financial uncertainties and personalized alerts to protect you from overdraft fees, we also offer the best protection online.
Get active credit monitoring, credit alerts, SSN monitoring, Change of Address Monitoring, Dark Web monitoring and a $1 million identity theft protection insurance with Beem.
Your Social Security number is the key to personal data. So, guard it as best you can. If and when you are asked for your number, ensure to ask why it is needed and how it can be protected. Also securely store or shred paperwork containing your Social Security number.
Be wary of phishing and spoofing
Scammers can make phone calls and send emails that may seem to be legit. Don’t entertain emails from unknown websites and also be wary of attachments — many contain malware.
Keep your passwords strong
Create complex, unique passwords for your accounts and store them in one place. Never, we repeat, never reuse passwords. An authenticator step can also reduce your risk.
Stay alert
Financial institutions tend to text or email transactions that are made from your account. Sign up for these updates so that you are aware of when and where your credit cards are used. There are money lessons to be learned too from the life of Spider-Man.
Always watch your mailbox
Stolen mail leads to a stolen identity. Ensure to have your mail held if you’re out of town. Also, have a U.S. Postal Service-approved lockable mailbox set up for your home. If you sign up for Informed Delivery through the USPS, it will give you a preview of your mail. Now you can tell if anything is missing.
We can’t stress how important it is for you to protect your identity and who better than Spider-Man to show us how. Watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s mega-event in theatres near you. And remember, with great power comes great responsibility, so be responsible with your finances.