Technology has come a long way in the past few decades and, along with it, more data sharing and online storage use. There are billions of people on social media and who use online brokerage and bank accounts worldwide. As can be expected, the need for digital security has never been higher. While technology is becoming more secure in response to threats, prevention is always a good idea. While we are by no means security experts, we thought we would share some simple information that we’ve gathered that could help to safeguard your digital information. - Evaluate your current security measures. If two-factor authorization is available with your service, use it whenever possible. Especially with any financial accounts! A slight inconvenience logging into your account each time could save you a lot of problems in the long run.
- Use a unique and strong password for each online account you have. Avoid using common passwords like a birthday or a child or pet’s name. If you’re like me and are not blessed with a crazy good memory that can remember dozens of passwords, there are several password managers available either online or via an app. Do your research and spend an afternoon making it harder for hackers to get into your accounts!
- Before clicking a link in an email you don’t recognize, look for signs that it isn’t legitimate. A common indicator is grammar or spelling typos. Many phishing emails will use a sense of urgency or threat of something negative to get you to click in haste without taking the time to consider that they’re not who they claim to be. Also, be wary of an ‘official’ email coming from a public domain, such as gmail or yahoo instead of a company domain.
- When posting on social media, consider the information you may be sharing. A hacker can use even minor details to target you or your family members.
- Don’t go on autopilot - monitor your online accounts and devices. Make sure to change your passwords periodically, especially if you get an alert about unusual account activity or any type of breach.
Staying alert to these points can help you browse the web with a little more peace of mind. We hope you find these suggestions helpful!
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