How to Freeze Your Credit Before Hackers Do It for You
1 Jul 2026 · 4 min read · Comments
A credit freeze is the single most effective thing most people can do for identity theft protection. It's free, it takes 15 minutes, and almost nobody does it.
What a Credit Freeze Actually Is
A credit freeze — also called a security freeze — locks your credit file at the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). When your credit is frozen, lenders can't access your credit report to approve new credit accounts. That means even if a criminal has your Social Security number, name, and address, they can't open a credit card, take out a loan, or get a mobile phone plan in your name.
A freeze does not affect your credit score. It does not prevent you from using existing credit cards. It does not stop you from checking your own credit report. It just blocks new credit from being opened without your permission.
It's Free, and It Has Been Since 2018
Before 2018, bureaus charged up to $10 per freeze per bureau. The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act made credit freezes permanently free. Freezing, unfreezing, and re-freezing your credit costs nothing at any of the three bureaus.
How to Freeze Your Credit at All Three Bureaus
You must do this separately at each bureau. Takes about five minutes per bureau online:
- Equifax: equifax.com → create a myEquifax account → Security Freeze → Add Freeze. You'll receive a PIN — save it.
- Experian: experian.com → Freeze Center → Add a Security Freeze. You'll create an account and receive a PIN.
- TransUnion: transunion.com → Create account → Credit Freeze → Add Freeze. Same PIN process.
You can also call or write to each bureau if you prefer not to do it online. The PINs are important — save them somewhere secure, because you'll need them to temporarily lift the freeze when you apply for credit.
Thawing Your Credit When You Need It
When you want to apply for credit — a car loan, mortgage, new credit card — you temporarily lift the freeze at the bureau the lender uses. Ask the lender which bureau they pull from, then log in and unfreeze for a set time period (one day, one week). After the window closes it re-freezes automatically. You can also lift it permanently if you prefer.
Freeze Your Children's Credit Too
Children's Social Security numbers are a prime target because the theft often isn't discovered for years — sometimes not until the child applies for their first credit card at 18. All three bureaus allow parents to freeze a minor child's credit. It requires mailing in documentation (birth certificate, your ID) but it's worth doing.
A credit freeze is probably the single highest-impact thing you can do for identity theft prevention that takes under 15 minutes. Do it today. The risk is almost entirely that you might need to spend two minutes thawing your credit when you apply for something — that's a reasonable trade for blocking an entire category of fraud.
