At the center of this crisis is the Social Security number, still the primary credential used to apply for credit.

Freezing your credit won't protect you from all scams. But it does keep cybercriminals from opening accounts in your name.

Performing a freeze takes some work, as you must contact all three credit bureaus, but it’s an effective tool to use when you need to protect your credit score and personal information.

If you are the victim of a cybersecurity breach and some of your personal data has been compromised, there are some steps you ...

Ella Vincent Kiplinger's Personal Finance May 4, 2025 May 4, 2025Updated Jun 10, 2025 ...

Nat Cardona Lee Media Studio Jan 21, 2025 Updated Jan 21, 2025 0 ... PennyWise: Personal Finance & Travel Tips Credit Freeze 101: 6 Steps to Safeguard Your Identity and Score 00:00 10m ...

In 2023, Quebec passed the Credit Assessment Agents Act, which allows residents to freeze their credit reports. It’s the only province to have done so thus far.

Credit freeze 101: 6 steps to safeguard your score and identity | PennyWise podcast Nat Cardona Lee Media Studio Jan 21, 2025 Updated Jan 21, 2025 0 ...