As Americans grow more dependent on the internet for everything from shopping, taxes, bills, bank accounts, and emails, the risk of them falling prey to cybercrime rises. Hundreds of thousands have been the victims of phishing and ransomware attacks in recent years.
To keep your personal information out of the hands of hackers and criminals, check out our guide below on essential habits and tools to boost your digital security.
Use Strong, Unique Passwords for Each Account
Creating long, complex passwords of at least 16 characters, including numbers, letters, and symbols, is essential to protecting your accounts. Short, easily guessable passwords are easy for hackers to crack in brute-force attacks. That data will be especially vulnerable if you’ve used the same simple password based on your birthday or nickname across multiple sites.
A password manager can simplify storing and creating unique passwords for all your online accounts. It stores all your passwords in one digital location accessed by a master password or pin, making it easy to check which passwords are weak and remove duplicates to reduce the risk of identity theft.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Where Possible
Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, adds another layer of security by requiring an additional verification form, like one-time codes sent to your device, in addition to your initial password. Even if hackers discover your login details, they won’t have the second factor, whether it’s your phone or biometric login.
Using 2FA with long, complex passwords significantly reduces the risk of unauthorised access to your various accounts. SMS verification will only work with a trusted phone number you enter, making it difficult for hackers to access your accounts.
Be Cautious of Phishing Attempts and Unsolicited Communications
Phishing is a common type of cybercrime in which criminals trick individuals into revealing their private data by pretending to be legitimate entities like banks and government websites. They often use emails with links to fake websites to trick victims into providing login details or include attachments that include malware.
To avoid phishing scams, look for messages warning of dire consequences unless you take urgent action. Check the email address and links in the communication. They will differ from the official accounts, and their websites may be unsecured without the lock icon and ‘https’ in the link.
Regularly Monitor Your Accounts and Credit Reports
By keeping up-to-date with your credit history and account activity, you’ll quickly identify suspicious activity, such as new accounts, inquiries, or changes in your address, that indicate identity theft.
Ensure you have alerts for suspicious activity across your bank accounts and credit reports. You’ll notice applications made without your name, allowing you to take action and avoid losing money and a lower credit score that prevents you from getting approved for loans in the future.
