Do You Know How to Stay Safe Online?

These days, it’s hard to turn on the news and NOT hear about an individual, a bank, a business, a hospital, or even government agency that’s fallen victim to cybersecurity.

But, even amidst large-scale data breaches and clever scams designed to wipe out life savings and cost businesses millions, there are things you can do to protect your personal data and assets.

Use Strong Passwords. Strong passwords are critical to online security. The National Institute of Standards and Technology recommends using the longest password or passphrase permissible. Do not include personal information or information that could easily be found on social media. Click here for tips on Choosing and Protecting Passwords (PDF).

Keep software and apps up to date. Keeping all the software and apps on all your devices up to date ensures you’re getting the best security available. In many cases, you can set up automatic updates so that updates are downloaded and installed as soon as they are available. However, you may have to restart your device after updating for it to fully install. Again, you may be able to automate this to happen overnight or whenever you’re not likely to need your device.

Update operating systems. Make sure your operating systems (OSs) are up to date on all your devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are common targets for hackers. You can update your devices with these direct links:

►   Android
►   Apple
►   Chrome
►   Samsung
►   Windows

Do not open email from unknown sources. 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 nearly identical to legitimate sites. You may even receive links via emails of people you know who have been hacked. If someone sends a link, check with them via a means other than the email received to confirm they sent it.

Beware of pop-up windows. Pop-up windows that urgently demand you download a software update are not your friend. If you see one, you should immediately close your browser as they are attempts to steal your information (aka phishing). If you’re getting a lot of pop-up windows, there’s a good chance your machine may have malware. You should immediately update the operating system. You may also want to install antivirus and anti-malware software.

Secure 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. A secure website address (URL) will start with “https.” The ‘S’ stands for secure, which indicates that the site is using a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate and means any communication and data shared is encrypted as it passes from your browser to the website's server.

For more tips on staying safe online, visit the National Cybersecurity Alliance website where you’ll find articles and resources for safely navigating the web and determining next steps if you think you’ve fallen victim to scammers.

DISCLAIMER: This article is meant for educational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as financial, tax, investment or legal advice.