Safeguard Your Digital World with these Tips
With the growing barrage of clever tactics that fraudsters use to gain access to your personal information, many people feel they are defenseless against cyber attacks. For that reason, we’ve created a checklist of easy steps you can take to protect your devices and personal information from hacking and subsequent identity fraud. Here are some of those steps…
Protecting Your Devices
1. Regularly update your software.
Patch vulnerabilities by consistently updating your operating system, web browsers, and applications on devices such as computers, phones, tablets, and watches.
2. Utilize antivirus software.
There are many reputable antivirus software options you can choose from that work to prevent malware and hacking, and the consequences of not having this layer of protection often far outweigh the cost of the software itself.
3. Use a secure Wi-Fi network.
Avoid using public Wi-Fi or any kind of free internet from public facilities like a cafe, restaurant, airport, or hotel, especially when conducting sensitive financial transactions. Instead, consider using your cellular data or cellular hotspot.
4. Make sure your Wi-Fi network has a strong password.
A password to your secure network is equally as important as the network you use. This password should be at least 12 characters long with lower and upper case letters, numbers, and symbols.
5. Remember your phones and tablets.
You use your phones and tablets just as frequently as a laptop – and sometimes more – so don’t forget to implement strong passwords for these devices too. This might even include biometric locks (using fingerprints or face ID). You can also turn on your find-my-device feature or remote wipe (the ability for a device’s owner to erase data) in case these items are ever stolen.
Protecting Your Information
1. Avoid sponsored webpages.
Before clicking on a website, you’ll want to make sure it does not say “sponsored” or “ads” next to it. These sites will usually show up as the top searches, and they may be promoted or paid for by nefarious or fake sites.
2. Utilize a strong password and/or password management software.
A strong password is especially important for your banking information and should be updated frequently. To simplify password updates and avoid having to memorize all of them, consider using a secure password manager. Also, never share a password or hint with someone you don’t know and trust. You should always avoid sharing passwords on social media, as scammers often pose as loved ones. (Click here to learn more about password management apps.)
3. Utilize two-factor authentication.
At Storen Financial, we champion two-factor authentication (2FA) as a secondary layer of protection for your accounts. All our employees and clients are required to use it when accessing our secure client portal, where financial documentation is uploaded.
4. Understand what phishing is.
Scammers will use unsolicited emails, calls, and texts to ask for personal information, and this form of communication is often accompanied by links and attachments. Never click or respond to these unless you’re sure of their source. Click here to learn more about potential cyber scams.
5. Monitor accounts regularly.
Similar to changing your account passwords regularly, you’ll want to consistently check up on your bank and other payment accounts. This will help you quickly spot and report any unauthorized transactions or suspicious activity. You can even set up automatic alerts that signify when you have made a purchase with a debit or credit card.
When you add these easy steps to your defenses against scammers, you diminish the risk of becoming a victim of cyber-attack. While fraudsters follow the technology trends of our modern world and continually improve their threats, be assured that our Storen Financial team will always strive to provide the resources you need to stay ahead of the latest technology dangers.
Stay up to date on cybersecurity threats and best practices by reading our data security blogs. (Click here to learn more from our data security blogs.)
Have questions? Contact us today for more information about data security, our client portal, or our services. (Click here for contact information.)
Blog by Amy White – Technology Manager
Learn more about Amy and the rest of the Storen Financial team here.