Fall is finally here which means it is time for apple cider, fall colors, and Cybersecurity awareness. October is Cybersecurity Awareness month where the US Government raises the awareness and provides resources to people looking to be more secure. FreeStar Financial takes security very seriously to ensure member data is safe and secure by having tough security standards. Here are 5 tips to help keep you safe.
Protect your password. Create a password with twelve characters or more and a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, and never be reused. Additionally, always opt to enable stronger authentication when available, especially for accounts with sensitive information such as accounts with financial information.
Avoid oversharing online. Sites like Facebook have often been called a stalker paradise. If someone really does want to stalk or target you in some way, they can learn about you by looking at your profile. The more info you share, the more they know. This can also put you at more of a risk for identity theft in some cases. For example, if a thief manages to get a hold of your financial info, they can easily look at your Facebook to find other information needed to forge your identity.
Stay protected while connected. Before you connect to any public wireless hotspot – like on an airplane or in an airport, hotel, or café – be sure to confirm the name of the network and login procedures with appropriate staff to ensure that the network is legitimate. If devices on your network are compromised for any reason, or if hackers break through an encrypted firewall, someone could be eavesdropping on you—even in your own home on encrypted Wi-Fi.
Play hard to get with strangers. Cyber criminals will often offer a financial reward, threaten you if you don’t engage, or claim that someone is in need of help. Don’t fall for it! Keep your personal information as private as possible. Cyber criminals can also use social engineering with these details to try to manipulate you into skipping normal security protocols. Think twice before responding to something. If you get a letter, email, text message, or phone call that is out of the blue; give it a second thought before responding or clicking on anything. If you’re alerted to something about your banking details, always call us at 586-466-7800 to confirm if it’s real or not before acting on the request.
Keep your device clean. Keeping your internet-connected devices free from malware and infections makes the internet safer for you and more secure for everyone. Regularly scan your personal and office devices for viruses and spyware along with keeping your software up to date.
