<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">When it comes to protecting yourself online, many people stick to the basics—strong passwords, two-factor authentication (2FA), and using a VPN. But did you know there are other simple and highly effective cybersecurity practices that often go unnoticed? These methods can protect your information, prevent data breaches, and safeguard your identity online. Let's explore these seven underrated yet easy-to-implement cybersecurity tips.</p>

<h2 class="font-bold text-h3 leading-[40px] pt-[21px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]" dir="ltr">1. Use a Separate Email for Sensitive Activities</h2>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">Create a dedicated email address specifically for your financial accounts, such as banking, investments, or other high-priority accounts. This makes it harder for phishing attacks to succeed, as hackers won't know which email address is linked to your sensitive activities.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr"><i><em class="italic">Why it works</em></i>:</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">Your primary email, which is widely used for subscriptions, communication, or online registrations, is more likely to end up in the hands of bad actors. By using a "secret" email that you don't share publicly, you minimize the risk of scammers accessing important accounts through phishing emails.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="font-bold">How to do it</strong></b>:</p>

<ol class="pt-[9px] pb-[2px] pl-[24px] [&amp;_ol]:pt-[5px] list-decimal">
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="1">Create a new email account using a secure provider like Gmail, ProtonMail, or Tutanota.</li>
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="2">Update email settings in your financial accounts to use this new address exclusively.</li>
</ol>
<h2 class="font-bold text-h3 leading-[40px] pt-[21px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]" dir="ltr">2. Use Virtual Credit Cards for Online Transactions</h2>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">Virtual credit cards are an excellent way to protect your financial information when shopping online. They generate a unique card number for each transaction, which hides your real card details from merchants.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr"><i><em class="italic">Why it works</em></i>:</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">Even if a hacker breaches a merchant’s database, your real credit card information remains safe. Virtual cards also allow you to set limits, making it harder for unauthorized charges to occur.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="font-bold">How to do it</strong></b>:</p>

<ol class="pt-[9px] pb-[2px] pl-[24px] [&amp;_ol]:pt-[5px] list-decimal">
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="1">Use services like Privacy.com or your bank's virtual card feature.</li>
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="2">Replace your physical card details with a virtual card for online purchases.</li>
</ol>
<h2 class="font-bold text-h3 leading-[40px] pt-[21px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]" dir="ltr">3. Use Tap-to-Pay Instead of Physical Cards</h2>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">If you’re still swiping or inserting your credit card at payment terminals, it’s time to switch to tap-to-pay technology. Services like Apple Pay or Google Pay tokenize your card details, creating a secure layer between you and the merchant.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr"><i><em class="italic">Why it works</em></i>:</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">Tap-to-pay ensures that your actual credit card number is never shared with merchants. Instead, a temporary token is used for the transaction, protecting your data from being stolen.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="font-bold">How to do it</strong></b>:</p>

<ol class="pt-[9px] pb-[2px] pl-[24px] [&amp;_ol]:pt-[5px] list-decimal">
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="1">Add your credit card to the wallet app on your smartphone or smartwatch.</li>
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="2">Use the tap-to-pay feature at stores, cafés, or kiosks whenever possible.</li>
</ol>
<h2 class="font-bold text-h3 leading-[40px] pt-[21px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]" dir="ltr">4. Generate Unique Username Emails for Logins</h2>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">Most people re-use their email address across multiple accounts. But what if you could create a unique email for each login? This simple trick adds a layer of protection to your accounts.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr"><i><em class="italic">Why it works</em></i>:</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">When combined with strong passwords, having unique emails for different accounts makes it almost impossible for hackers to access all your logins, even in the event of a data breach.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="font-bold">How to do it</strong></b>:</p>

<ol class="pt-[9px] pb-[2px] pl-[24px] [&amp;_ol]:pt-[5px] list-decimal">
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="1">Use email tools like Apple’s "Hide My Email" feature, ProtonMail’s SimpleLogin, or append unique identifiers with Gmail by adding "+[identifier]" to your address (e.g., myemail+netflix@gmail.com).</li>
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="2">Apply this practice to new accounts you create going forward.</li>
</ol>
<h2 class="font-bold text-h3 leading-[40px] pt-[21px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]" dir="ltr">5. Set Up a Credit Freeze</h2>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">A credit freeze prevents lenders from accessing your credit history, making it much harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr"><i><em class="italic">Why it works</em></i>:</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">Even if a hacker has your Social Security number or other details, a credit freeze blocks them from using your information to apply for loans or credit cards.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="font-bold">How to do it</strong></b>:</p>

<ol class="pt-[9px] pb-[2px] pl-[24px] [&amp;_ol]:pt-[5px] list-decimal">
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="1">Contact major credit bureaus like Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.</li>
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="2">Request a freeze on your credit, which you can easily lift temporarily if you need to apply for credit yourself.</li>
</ol>
<h2 class="font-bold text-h3 leading-[40px] pt-[21px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]" dir="ltr">6. Remove Your Personal Data from Data Brokers</h2>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">Data brokers collect and sell personal information such as your address, phone number, and email. This information is often used by scammers or hackers attempting to trick you into revealing sensitive details.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr"><i><em class="italic">Why it works</em></i>:</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">Eliminating your data from these platforms reduces the chances of being targeted. While this can be time-intensive, you also have the option of using services that do it for you, like DeleteMe.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="font-bold">How to do it</strong></b>:</p>

<ol class="pt-[9px] pb-[2px] pl-[24px] [&amp;_ol]:pt-[5px] list-decimal">
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="1">Identify which data brokers hold your information. Common ones include Whitepages, Spokeo, and MyLife.</li>
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="2">Follow each site’s opt-out request process, or use a third-party service to remove your details automatically.</li>
</ol>
<h2 class="font-bold text-h3 leading-[40px] pt-[21px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]" dir="ltr">7. Prioritize Physical Device Security</h2>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">You may have robust online protections, but what about your physical devices? Protecting your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or any device you use is essential to ensure they remain secure.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr"><i><em class="italic">Why it works</em></i>:</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">Lost or stolen devices are an entry point for hackers. Thankfully, basic precautions like device encryption and screen locks make it nearly impossible for bad actors to retrieve data.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="font-bold">How to do it</strong></b>:</p>

<ol class="pt-[9px] pb-[2px] pl-[24px] [&amp;_ol]:pt-[5px] list-decimal">
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="1">Turn on encryption for your devices (this is usually enabled by default on modern smartphones).</li>
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="2">Use strong passwords, PINs, or biometric authentication (like fingerprint or face recognition) for device access.</li>
 	<li class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] my-[5px] [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ol]:!pb-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pt-0 [&amp;&gt;ul]:!pb-0" value="3">Enable "Find My Device" features for remote locking or wiping in case of theft.</li>
</ol>
<h2 class="font-bold text-h3 leading-[40px] pt-[21px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]" dir="ltr">Proactive Cybersecurity Matters</h2>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">Online security is no longer optional—it’s essential. Following these lesser-known tips can greatly enhance your digital safety, reduce hackers’ chances of accessing your personal data, and help you stay one step ahead.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">Want to make sure all your personal information is truly protected? Services like DeleteMe can save you hours of effort by removing your data from data brokers. They’ve made cybersecurity a simple, stress-free process.</p>
<p class="text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]" dir="ltr">By adopting these tips, you can enjoy peace of mind while navigating an increasingly connected world. Remember, cybersecurity isn’t just about avoiding attack; it’s about building proactive habits that ensure your safety every day.</p>