How to protect your finances online
Did you know that protecting yourself from cyber threats is not just about staying safe but also about securing your hard-earned money?
Who doesn’t love the convenience of shopping online? Or depositing a check electronically? In our digital age, online transactions have become the norm. Whether it's shopping, banking, or investing, money is flowing through cyberspace. But here's the thing: with convenience comes risk.
Take the following steps to help mitigate risk and protect yourself online:
Be strategic with your login credentials and passwords
Do not use personal information such as your Social Security number or birth date as part of your
user ID.Create a unique password for each financial institution with which you do business; use passwords that are long and contain a combination of characters, numbers, and symbols. Consider using a password manager to create, manage, and store passwords that are unique and secure.
Do not share your passwords.
Use two-step verification whenever possible.
Keep your technology up-to-date
Keep your web browser and operating system up-to-date and be sure you’re using appropriate security settings. Old software, operating systems, and browsers are more susceptible to attack.
Install anti-virus/anti-malware/anti-spyware software on all computers and mobile devices.
Enable the security settings on your applications and web browser.
Do not use free or found USB thumb drives—they could be infected with viruses or malware.
Turn off Bluetooth when it’s not needed, to protect against individuals gaining access to your devices using Bluetooth connections.
Safely and securely dispose of old hardware.
Be sure you’re on a secure website
Check the URL to see whether it’s a secure connection. Secure sites begin with https rather than http and are generally considered safer.
Check the address bar for site validity indicators whenever you log into a website. Some browsers use green text or security symbols to indicate a secure and verified site.
Download apps only from Google Play or Apple’s App Store.
Do not visit websites you don’t know—such as those advertised in pop-up ads and banners.
Log out completely to terminate access when you’ve completed a secure session, such as for online banking or a credit card payment.
By prioritizing cybersecurity, you can shop with confidence, manage your investments securely, and shield your financial transactions from potential threats.
Don’t forget to download my financial checklist to organize your own finances.