US factory production declined for the first time since June, underscoring weaker conditions in the sector amid waning global demand and higher borrowing costs.

The 0.6% drop in factory production last month followed an upwardly revised 0.3% gain in October, according to Federal Reserve data released Thursday. The figure missed all estimates in a Bloomberg survey of economists.

Including mining and utilities, total industrial output fell 0.2% in November, compared to a projection for stagnation.

Manufacturing output was dragged by both durable and nondurable goods, including motor vehicles and parts and plastics and rubber products. Excluding autos, factory production was still down by the most in six months.

Manufacturers have been contending with weaker demand due to shifting consumer spending patterns and compounded by higher interest rates. The sector contracted in November for the first time since the onset of the pandemic as new orders continued to shrink and companies prepare for lower future output, according to the Institute for Supply Management.

Separate data out Thursday from regional Federal Reserve banks showed manufacturing weakened in both the New York and Philadelphia regions by more than expected. The latters new orders gauge fell to the lowest since the onset of the pandemic.

Utility Output

Utility output rose 3.6%, the most since January on higher electricity usage while mining declined. Oil and gas well drilling fell 0.7%, the biggest drop since July 2020.

The Feds report also showed capacity utilization at factories retreated to 78.9% last month, the lowest since June.

Inventories have also been too high, prompting many retailers to extend deep discounts in the holiday shopping season. Separate data earlier this week showed 4% of US small businesses plan to decrease their stockpiles in the next three to six months, the most since April 2020.

Other metrics still point to resilient demand. Orders placed with US factories for business equipment rebounded sharply in October, according to the governments latest data.

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This month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Meta are squaring up in federal court over the commissions latest suit against Meta. The suit claims Metas purchase of the small virtual reality fitness app, Within Unlimited, would prevent future competition in the VR fitness space.

Given the time and resources the commission is pouring into the case, youd expect Meta to be crushing the competition like an unstoppable machine.

However, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced the companys steepest round of layoffs ever, letting go 13% of the companys staff, amidst a rush of painful, widely publicized hiring freezes and layoffs across the tech sector. 

Meta has shed 70% of its value this year, totaling over $730 billion in market cap lost. Its a testament to how challenging it is to maintain the pole position in a space as fickle as social networking, especially when it comes to new generations of customers. Its difficult to make a solid case for Metas so-called market dominance in this context, as the FTC seeks to do in its suit.

It seems that regulators in Washington are more focused than ever on chasing ephemeral claims of anti-competitive behavior by tech companiesincluding Metaat a time when many tech firms are already fighting to survive. The FTC is hunting for ghosts and ignoring the realities of the market and consumer behavior.

The FTCs dual mandate requires the agency to both promote competition and protect consumers from unfair business practices. And while this mission could not be more important at this time, the agencys two separate cases against Meta, and its crusade against Big Tech, fail to accomplish these goals.

Instead of making straightforward cases against obvious bad actors, the FTC appears to be contorting itself to find a reason to go after Meta. It already has a pending case that challenges Metas acquisitions of Whatsapp and Instagram, which date back eight and 10 years ago, respectively.

However, the unchecked rise of TikTok, which brings with it huge privacy risks as China can reportedly collect Americans data, shows how poorly the FTCs lawsuit has aged.

In its case against Metas purchase of Within Unlimited, the commission has already had to drop its claim that Meta even competes with Within. Instead, its had to double down on a perceived potential competition claim that has been historically unsuccessful in court.

Merely one percent of voters prioritize tech regulation as a public policy issue they want Congress to tackle, according to our pre-midterm polling. And when we asked voters about regulatory priorities for tech, their focus was on data privacy and securitynot competition and antitrust.

Regulators have a responsibility to pay attention to whats happening in the market and who theyre targeting. With these lawsuits, the FTC is fighting an old, imagined version of Facebook, not todays Meta thats in a competitive dogfight for its future survival.

The FTCs pursuit of Meta will ultimately constrain innovation and provide no benefits to consumersnot to mention that its a poor use of the agencys finite resources. The FTC should turn its focus to battling practices that result in real consumer harm instead of going after companies whose future growth is far from assured.

As the tech industry reckons with this turning point, regulators must too. The agency would be better off focusing its efforts on pursuing targeted policies that address the consumer problems that actually need solving, rather than swiping at ghosts.

Adam Kovacevich is the founder and CEO of the Chamber of Progress, a tech industry policy coalition promoting technologys progressive future. Meta is one of the Chamber of Progress corporate partners.

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.

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As the holiday season approaches, you might be feeling more generous than usual. But giving out money or your personal information to the wrong recipient might leave you feeling blue this Christmasand could potentially harm you financially in the long-run. 

Understanding common fraud and scams that criminals use to steal your money or identity can help prevent you from falling for their tactics. Later on well discuss what to do in case you have fallen victim to any of these schemes, but first here is the difference between a scam and fraud. 

Fraud vs. scams

Fraud: A fraudulent activity or charge generally refers to any action taken within your bank account or with your personally identifiable information (PII) that you did not authorize.

An example of a fraudulent charge is someone making a purchase using your debit card number without your knowledge. An example of fraudulent activity is when someone uses your personal information to open a new bank account or credit card in your name. 

Scams: A scam is when someone convinces you to willingly share your personally identifiable information or authorize a transaction under false pretenses. 

An example of a scam could be someone calling you pretending to be an IRS employee asking for your personal information or money. The willing exchange of information or payment is what makes this a scam tactic as opposed to a fraudulent activity. 

The difference: In situations of fraud, the victim did not authorize the transaction or exchange of information and is often unaware of the incident until after it occurred. In situations of scams, the victim willingly authorized a transaction or shared personal information under false pretenses. 

Common fraud and scam tactics 

There are several common types of frauds and scams that bad actors use to gain your trust and persuade you to fall for their schemes. Its important to be aware of common red flags that indicate a scam or fraud situation so you can protect yourself from losing money or giving out your personal information to the wrong person. 

Covid-19 scams

Unfortunately, many scammers and fraudsters saw the pandemic as an opportunity to deceive vulnerable citizens. One type of Covid-19 scams are fake charities, which are created by fraudsters to take advantage of other peoples generosity during disasters. 

Theres a number of websites you can go to find out how a charity is rated, says David Harper, vice president of fraud for Hanscom Federal Credit Union. For instance, you can go to Charity Navigator and look up an organization to see whether it is indeed a charitable organization and how good the charity is at getting the donations to the intended recipient.

How to protect yourself: Especially following a catastrophe, be wary of anyone asking for your personal information, such as your credit card or Social Security number, and money. Take extra precaution in vetting charities that were suddenly created in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

If youre the victim of a Covid-19 scam, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud. You can also submit a complaint to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if the scam was conducted online through email, social media, or other websites. 

Banking scams

Bank scams occur when someone poses as a bank employee and contacts you asking for personal information or a payment. Scammers may also request that you make a transaction from your own bank account, such as cashing a check or making a withdrawal. 

A common banking scam is when a scammer posts a fake job posting online, usually targeting college students or young adults. The scammer will mail a fake check with instructions to pay a third party (who is also a fraudster) a portion of the funds to complete the job. Once the bank realizes the check is fraudulent, the funds from the check are removed from your account and you have paid the fraudster from your own money.

Phishing is another common banking scam tactic used to gain your bank account and debit card information. In this case, a scammer might email you pretending to be a bank employee who needs to verify your information on your account. A good rule of thumb in picking out a phishing scam is that your bank should never email you asking for your personal information. 

How to protect yourself: Its important to be cautious when sharing your personal information and making transactions against your bank account. If someone asks you to cash a check for them, consider verifying the check using the contact information found on the banks website before conducting any transactions. 

If you receive a bogus check, report it to the FTC. If someone calls you claiming to be a bank employee, you can alert your bank using the contact information provided on their official website for additional steps on how to protect yourself and your bank account. 

Investment scams

Investment scams involve a bad actor attempting to trick you into investing money, usually offering a promise of a high return with little to no investment risk. The investment itself can be fake, or the scammer may provide false information about a real investment. These scams may involve a high sense of urgency from an aggressive or pushy salesperson.  

For instance, a high-yield investment program scam usually includes claims that you are guaranteed to make a large profit off of the money you invest. In reality, the investments are not real, or they are real but have little to no value. 

How to protect yourself: If someone is attempting to sell you an investment, you should always request the proper paperwork that informs you of the investment detailssuch as a prospectus if they are selling stocks or mutual funds. You can also go online to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) search tool to research if the investment is legitimate and review available prospectuses. 

If you believe you are a victim of an investment scam, you can file a complaint with the SEC online or via mail using the investor complaint form. 

Lottery scams

Scammers create fake lotteries and contests in an attempt to gain your personal information or money. In these scams, you may be told you have won the lottery but need to pay a small fee before you are entitled to the prize. 

For instance, you may receive an email that states, Congratulations, you are the winner of a brand new iPhone 14! But once you click on the email, you are asked to make a small payment in order to receive your phone. You should never make a payment in exchange for a prize, especially for a contest you didnt sign up for, or else you risk losing your money. 

How to protect yourself: If you notice a contest is asking you to pay or give out your information to get your prize or increase your chances of winning, it is a good sign that the contest is a scam. 

Real contests will never ask you to make a purchase to qualify for entry. If you receive a phone call from a contest promoter, they are required by law to inform you that it is free to enter, and will give you steps on how to redeem your prize if you win. 

Telephone scams

Telephone scams come in a variety of forms, but essentially boil down to someone calling you in an attempt to learn your personal information or steal money from you. 

For instance, you may receive a call from a real person pretending to be a salesperson. They may be trying to persuade you into purchasing an item that does not exist, with the hopes of acquiring your bank account or debit card information. 

How to protect yourself: A good rule of thumb is to decline phone calls from unknown numbers or calls you are not expecting, says Harper. This helps you weed out the scam calls from those of people you truly know. If you are suspicious of a call after you answered it, hang up immediately. 

You can register your phone number online with the National Do Not Call Registry to cut down on unnecessary telemarketing calls. If you continue to receive suspicious calls or if the calls come from someone using a fake caller ID, you can report the scam to the FTC. 

Census-related fraud

Census fraud occurs when a fraudster attempts to gain your personally identifiable information by posing as a Census Bureau worker. The fraudster may call you, email you, or send you a letter in the mail that appears legitimate, but is not. A fraudster may also visit you in-person at your home.

How to protect yourself. You should never share your personally identifiable information with anyone claiming to be a Census Bureau employee, and never respond to email requests to participate in a survey. 

Instances of Census Bureau fraud can be reported to your states regional office. If you suspect an email is posing as the Census Bureau, you can forward it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

How to report scams and fraud 

If you realize you are a victim of fraud or a scam, its important to act quickly to protect yourself from further financial loss. 

Contact your financial institution to inform them of the fraudulent charge or scam. 

Depending on the type of transaction, your financial institution may be able to reverse the transaction and refund your money. If the payment was sent using Zelle or another payment platform, the funds may not be refundable. Its important to note that exchanges of cryptocurrency are generally not reversibleyou may only be able to get a refund if the scammer returns the funds back to you. 

Report identity theft online through the FTC.  

If you gave a scammer your personal information, you can go online to IdentityTheft.gov to determine what steps you should take depending on your unique situation. If the scammer has access to your online accounts using your bank or social media login information, change your username and password as quickly as possible. Make sure to update any other websites that use the same password to secure your accounts. 

Scan your devices for malware. 

Scammers may be able to control your device remotely using software programs. Update your antivirus and firewall programs and scan on your device for potential issues. If you no longer have access to your device, your service provider may be able to help you regain control. Since the hacker may have accessed the data on your device, remember to review your recent financial transactions for any fraudulent charges. 

The takeaway 

Personally identifiable information that scammers often ask for include your Social Security number, bank account and debit/credit card numbers, date of birth, and addresswhich you should never give out. Any reputable government agency or financial institution is not going to ask for this information over the phone, so that should be a red flag, says Harper. 

Another red flag to look out for is a sense of urgency. Oftentimes a scammer will want you to provide personal information quickly or to send out a payment before a deadline. If something feels off to you, listen to your gut, says Harper.

Scientists have warned that the Omicron subvariants driving COVID cases among Americans appear to elude the immune system as well as medical treatments for the virus.

In a new study published in the scientific journal Cell, researchers from Columbia University and the University of Michigan warned that the Omicron subvariants BQ.1, BQ.1.1, XBB and XBB.1 were the most resistant [COVID] variants to date.

The research team looked into how the new strains responded to antibodies by mixing them with blood samples from individuals who had either been immunized with three or four doses of the original vaccines, been given a new bivalent booster, or had post-vaccination breakthrough infections caused by the BA.2 or BA.5 Omicron subvariants.

Their findings showed that the neutralization of BQ.1, BQ.1.1, XBB and XBB.1 was markedly impaired even when antibodies derived from the new bivalent vaccines were used.  

However, the updated vaccines did provide slightly better protection than the original vaccines, the study found.

The new so-called bivalent vaccines, which were designed by Pfizer and Moderna to work against both the original strain of COVID-19 and the more recent Omicron subvariants, were approved for use in the U.S. in August.

In participants who had been boosted with a bivalent vaccine, antibodies were 24 times lower against BQ.1, 41 times lower against BQ.1.1, 66 times lower against XBB and 85 times lower against XBB.1 compared to their response level against the original strain of COVID that emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019.

The researchers also found that all clinical monoclonal antibodies manmade antibodies used in pharmaceutical treatments for COVID like AstraZenecas Evushield and bebtelovimab were rendered inactive against these variants.

Drugs like these are typically used in immunocompromised patients to limit the viruss spread inside their bodies after a positive test.

Our findings indicate that BQ and XBB subvariants present serious threats to current COVID-19 vaccines, render inactive all authorized antibodies, and may have gained dominance in the population because of their advantage in evading antibodies, the studys authors wrote in their paper.

Unfortunately, both BQ and XBB sublineages are now completely resistant to bebtelovimab, leaving us with no authorized antibody for treatment use. In addition Evusheld is also completely inactive against the new subvariants. This poses a serious problem for millions of immunocompromised individuals who do not respond robustly to COVID-19 vaccines. The urgent need to develop active monoclonal antibodies for clinical use is obvious.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that as of Dec. 10, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 were, by far, the dominant strains of COVID in the U.S., accounting for a combined 68% of cases.

Back in October, as the BQ variants were gaining ground, Americas top doctor Anthony Fauci dubbed them troublesome because of the speed at which they were spreading.

XBB, meanwhile, accounted for 4.7% of cases in the week ending Dec. 10, making it the fifth most common subvariant in the United States. BA.5 and BF.7 rounded out the top five, coming in as the third and fourth most prominent subvariants respectively.

Rising COVID cases prompt U.S. action

U.S. cases of COVID have risen drastically in recent weeks, with the number of people reporting positive tests rising 49.6% in the week ending Dec. 7 from the week before. The rise in cases, as well as an expected increase in infections over the coming winter months, has prompted the Biden administration to introduce measures including offering more free COVID tests and opening up more mobile vaccination sites.

In New York, health officials have advised the public to wear masks indoors and in crowded outdoor settings, as New York City faces rising rates of COVID-19 as well as flu and RSV.

The study published this week adds to existing concerns about the BQ and XBB subvariants ability to evade immunity and pharmaceutical interventions.

Scientists at Peking Universitys Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center in China found earlier this year that both variants escape immunity from Bebtelovimab and Evusheld and the authors also warned that both strains could potentially lead to more severe symptoms.

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Two economic recessions, a pandemic, and a crippling student loan crisis can definitely put a wrench in your wealth-building journey. And for millennials, this is certainly the case. 

With the younger half of this generation just making its mark on the labor market, and the older half entering its prime earning years, heres a look at how this group has grown and maintained wealth. 

Average net worth of millennials 

Millennials are classified as those born between 1981 and 1996; the oldest members of this generation are in their early forties, the youngest in their mid-twenties. Many members of this generation are reaching their higher-earning years, starting or already building families, businesses, and becoming homeowners. 

According to the Federal Reserves 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances, millennials have an average net worth between roughly $76,000 and $436,000. And according to a 2022 report, millennials have more than doubled their total net worth, reaching $9.38 trillion in the first quarter of 2022, up from $4.55 trillion two years prior.

How does millennials net worth compare to other generations?

Compared to other generations, the average millennials net worth only outpaces Gen Z. The average millennial under age 35 has a net worth of about $76,000; those over age 35 stand at over $400,000. Members of Generation X have average net worths between $400,000 and $833,000, and older generations including baby boomers and the Silent Generation have average net worths of over $1 million. 

Millennials earn more money than any other generation at their age, but hold much lower wealth due to cost of living outpacing wage increases, says Molly Ward, certified financial planner at Equitable Advisors, based in Houston. Also, with boomers, as they married young there were often two wage earners in a household, so net worth increased. Millennials are often living on one salary, as they might not marry young or marry at all. 

What has shaped millennials net worth and financial future?     

For many millennials, the path to building wealth hasn't been without its challenges. A rising inflation rate, higher cost of living, and multiple economic downturns have made it a bit more challenging for members of this generation to grow their net worths.

Staggering student loan debt has made it difficult for this generation to build wealth

College is significantly more expensive than it used to be, and millennials wallets have felt the burn. In fact, college tuition has increased by 1,375% since 1978, more than four times the rate of overall inflation, according to a study by Georgetown University. 

While Gen Z holds the title for carrying the most student loan debt of any generation, a similar percentage of Gen Zers and millennials carry student loan balances over $50,000. Steep student loan balances have made many members of the millennial generation delay or completely write off important, wealth-building milestones like saving for retirement or homeownership. 

Data from Bankrate shows that 68% of millennials who took on student loan debt for their higher education delayed a major financial decision as a result of their debt. That's higher than it has been for older generations: About 54% of Gen X and 42% of boomer borrowers said they have delayed a major financial decision due to their student loan debt. 

Millennials have endured two financial recessions in their lifetimes 

Millennials lived through two recessions before the age of 40 that significantly influenced their job prospects, earning opportunities, and ability to pay down debtentering the workforce during one of the most challenging job markets. For millennials between the ages of 16 to 24 during the 2007 to 2009 recession, the unemployment rate hit a high of 19%, compared to a high of 7% to 9% for older generations. 

The COVID-19 pandemic set this generation back as well, considerably depleting wealth that was built by this generation during its recovery period. According to the same Georgetown University study, 38% of millennials received or sought financial help or assistance during the pandemic, and 35% reported having spent their savings or delayed saving/paying off debt. 

Wages have not kept pace with the cost of living  

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the median millennial household pre-tax income was $71,566 in 2020, and many workers across all generations report that they are not earning enough. Two-thirds of American workers report that their salaries are not keeping pace with inflation, and the percentage of employees considering quitting a job is at a four-year high, according to a new CNBC survey in partnership with Momentive.

3 ways millennials can grow their net worth  

Experts say that there are ways members of this generation can get back on track and build their net worths.

  • Make a plan to pay down student debt. Student loan debt can be a massive liability that drags down your net worth unless you make a plan to consistently chip away at your debt. Debt repayment strategies like the snowball or avalanche method can help you get a better understanding of your loans, interest rates, and how to best tackle your debt according to your income and repayment style. 
  • Secure adequate insurance coverage. Insurance is the safety net that protects your finances and most important assets when the unexpected happens. Making sure that you have enough coverage to protect all of your assets is key to maintaining a strong net worth. "There could be significant setbacks to your future if you lose your ability to earn income in these years from a disability or the death of your spouse. If you have children, come up with a plan for education costs if thats important to you, says Ward. Your insurance plan must be solid.
  • Dont slack on your retirement savings. Dont leave any money for retirement on the table. Ward suggests maxing out your employer-sponsored retirement account so that you can benefit from any contribution matches your employer may provide. In addition to maxing out that match, saving consistently over time is essentialno matter what the market does. For Gen Z and millennials, market swings can actually be a good thing, says Kendall Meade, certified financial planner at SoFi. By making regular contributions to their investments and retirement accounts, they are making these fluctuations work to their benefit. A recession can actually be a great buying opportunity.

Three months ago, Ethereum successfully completed its Merge, shifting to an energy-saving proof-of-stake consensus model and fundamentally changing the ecosystem of the second-largest blockchain.  

Blocknative, a Web3 infrastructure company based in San Francisco, has capitalized on the new system of block builders, or providers who determine which transactions to include in blocks and in what order.

According to data analytics tool Relayscan.io, Blocknative has become one of the most prolific block builders, accounting for more than 10% of the network.

A four-year-old company, Blocknative previously functioned more as a SaaS business, providing blockchain transaction management and monitoring services. With a new $15 million funding round, Blocknative is aming to build a viable, stand-alone block-building business in the new Ethereum ecosystem.

Block building is very newit popped into existence at the Merge, said Blocknative CEO and cofounder Matt Cutler. The economics of this are just beginning to materialize.

At a time when venture capital funding is sharply down overalla dynamic exacerbated in the volatile crypto industryinfrastructure companies like Blocknative are still finding investors. One of the VCs participating in the round is Blockchain Capital, which led a $15 million Series A in early December for the crypto accounting startup Bitwave.

Blocknatives recent launch of their relay and block building brings them ever closer to operating at the core of Ethereum, said Blockchain Capital general partner Spencer Bogart. The Merge marks a new era for Ethereum and a massive opportunity for Blocknative.

Many of the funds contributing to Blocknatives raise are native Web3 funds, which Cutler said demonstrates their commitment to the ecosystem.

The traditional VCs started to dabble, and youre hearing them pull away, Cutler told Fortune. If you believe in the long-term value of Web3, you know that infrastructure matters. 

Although he hopes that block building will become the core part of Blocknatives business, Cutler admits that the profit margins are still unclear. He said that the company is currently only making fractions of an ETH when it wins a block.

With the new funding round, Blocknative aims to be more competitive in the ecoysostem to win more blocks, as well as becoming more efficient at finding margin in a way thats ecosystem-aligned.  

As discussions around concepts like Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) and censorship grow in the Ethereum community, firms like Blocknative could prove essential to its path forward.  

Its a high-profile role, and its a very interesting place to be, said Cutler. We help determine whats going to go on-chain.

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Your credit report plays a major role in helping you hit all of your financial goals. Lenders rely on it to give them insight about your financial history and determine whether they want to approve you for new loans, credit cards, and more. This is why its important to protect your credit and the information in your report. 

One of the ways you might do that: a credit freeze. 

What is a credit freeze?

A credit freeze or security freeze is a restriction you can put on your credit file that prevents anyone from accessing your credit report, which, in turn, prevents you or anyone else from opening new accounts in your name. A 2022 survey from LendingClub found that just 17% of consumers have a fraud alert and/or a credit freeze on their credit reports. In all, 10% have a credit freeze, 9% have a fraud alert, and 2% have both.

You can temporarily lift the credit freeze if you need to apply for new credit, although there are still many things you can do while your credit is frozen. Freezing your credit wont limit your ability to do things like apply for a job, rent an apartment, use your existing credit cards, access your credit score, or buy insurance. And it doesnt affect your credit score in any way.

When should you freeze your credit?

You dont always have to have a reason for freezing your credit; its up to you to determine when you want to limit access to your credit file. However, there are instances when a freeze can help provide you with an added layer of protection. 

It makes sense to do so if you want to protect your credit from being accessed or if you are afraid of fraudulent activity. It can also be a way to help the elderly who are at higher risk of being taken advantage of, says Dawn Dahlby, certified financial planner, CRPC and founder of Be WELLthy, a wealth management company. 

You might consider freezing your credit if you notice any of the following: 

  • New credit accounts or inquiries that do not belong to you 
  • Unexplained bills or collection notices
  • Unauthorized transactions from your checking or savings accounts
  • Youve been notified that your personal information has been compromised in a data breach

How to freeze your credit 

Freezing your credit is completely free and must be done separately through each of the three major credit bureausEquifax, Experian, and Transunion. All three bureaus allow you to place a freeze on your credit file online, over the phone, or by mail. 

Youll need to provide certain pieces of personal identifying information (PII) such as your Social Security number (SSN), a copy of a photo ID and proof of residence, such as a recent utility bill. When you freeze your credit online or via telephone, the freeze will likely be placed instantly. Placing a freeze by written mail can take a few business days to process. 

Once its all said and done, your credit freeze will remain in place until you contact all three credit bureaus and request that it be removed. 

The takeaway 

Freezing your credit can give you extra protection if youre not currently using your credit or dont plan to apply for new credit any time soon. Keep a close eye on your credit report and financial accounts, and consider placing a freeze and filing a dispute if you think your information or credit file may have been compromised. 

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