Quick answer
A credit freeze, also called a security freeze, restricts access to your credit report so identity thieves have a harder time opening new accounts in your name. You can lift or remove it when you need to apply for credit.
Why it matters
The practical meaning.
A freeze is one of the strongest low-cost moves after identity theft or suspicious inquiries. It does not fix existing fraud by itself, but it can reduce the chance of new credit being opened while you clean up records.
Key points
1.
Place freezes separately with each major credit reporting company.
2.
Lift or temporarily thaw a freeze before legitimate credit applications.
3.
A freeze is different from a fraud alert, which tells creditors to take extra verification steps.
