Glossary
Credit freeze
Credit freeze: A credit freeze is a free setting at each of the three credit bureaus that blocks anyone from opening a new account in your name until you lift it.
Updated February 1, 2027
An example
Freezing your file at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion so a stolen Social Security number cannot be used to open a card.
Why it matters to you
It is the single most effective identity-theft protection and it costs nothing; it does not affect your credit score or your existing accounts.
Where to go next
See also
- Identity theft
Identity theft is the use of your personal information, such as your Social Security number or date of birth, to open accounts, file tax returns or get medical care in your name.
- Data breach
A data breach is a security incident in which a company's stored customer data, such as emails, passwords, Social Security numbers or card numbers, is stolen.