With the shift to work from home, being safe online is increasingly important. Keeping your personal information safe is essential. Otherwise, you can become a victim of cyber theft, malware, and other bad actors. However, by being smart and cautious online, you can avoid some of those traps.
Use a Strong Password
One of the easiest things you can do to help protect your identity is using strong passwords. A strong password can deter bad actors from accessing your information. Try to use a combination of letters, numbers, capitalizations, lowercase, and special characters to formulate a secure combination. Avoid using your birthday, family members’ names, and other meaningful words and numbers. The more random, the better! Try to use different passwords on different accounts as well.
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Be Familiar With Ways of Contact
Be familiar with the ways your services can contact you. For instance, if someone claiming to be the IRS sends you an email, it is probably fake because they don’t typically use digital methods of communication. If you are unsure if your bank, or other services, is really contacting you, contact them yourself. That way, you can ask a trusted source if the communications were real. Never respond to fishy messages and do not give away personal information without verification.
Use a Secure Internet Connection
When accessing your private information, like financial records, use a secure internet connection. Public Wi-Fi is not always secure. Others using public Wi-Fi may be able to see what you are looking at or working on. Always use a private connection, like your own personal Wi-Fi, when looking at important information. You may also opt for a VPN to help protect your information.
Use a Firewall and Antivirus Software
A firewall is designed to keep unauthorized people from getting into your system. A firewall can help deter bad actors from accessing your personal information. You should also use anti-virus software. Antivirus helps identify, prevent, and remove malware from your computer. Make sure to keep all your software up to date to help catch any unwanted entities from your computer.
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Review Your Statements
Make sure that you are frequently reviewing your statements. This way, you can catch if there seems to be something wrong. You should also pay attention to your billing cycle. If your billing cycle seems off, it could be an indication of fraud. When in doubt, contact your bank or credit card company for review.
Trust Your Gut
If something feels wrong, it probably is. If you have any suspicions, take precautions and do not give away your information. You can always double-check before taking action!
Stay safe online! While protecting your private information can feel daunting, with a few easy steps, you can help prevent bad actors from accessing your computer. If you have a small business, you may want to look into cyber liability insurance coverage to help protect your company from a data breach.
