Be Cybersecure and keep yourself protected

October 26, 2022

Are You Cybersecure?

Inadequate cybersecurity can lead to stolen identity and financial loss. With the goal of scammers being to steal your money and your identity, it’s vital that you know what to look for, how they work, and what to do, so you can protect yourself and your finances.

Here are a few key steps you should take to maintain strong cybersecurity practices at home:

• Do not open email from people you don’t know. If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
• Be careful with links and new website addresses.
  Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
• Secure your personal information.
  Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, social security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure. When entering personal information or payment details, look for the lock icon and use of “https” in the URL bar.
• Use strong passwords.
  Strong passwords are critical to online security. It is recommended that you use at least 8 characters with a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs.
  Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
• Update the operating systems on your electronic devices.
  Make sure your operating systems, software, and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions are the target of many hacks.

Do You Know How To Fight Phishing?

Phishing is the fraudulent practice of criminals contacting you purporting to be associated with a reputable company in order to induce you to reveal personal information, such as passwords, account access information, credit card numbers, and more.

While 96% of attempts are mainly targeted through email, there are several other ways fraudsters seek to mislead you to steal your information. Familiarize yourself with the red flags above to stay protected.

Learn more about common scams, methods of identity theft used by criminals, and how to protect yourself by visiting www.banksneveraskthat.com.