Online security is an ever changing and evolving topic. Last month we touched on shopping securely to avoid theft of your debit or credit card information. Today, we’re looking at things cyber criminals don’t want to you know.
Knowing, and more importantly, practicing these tidbits may just prevent you from having your payment information or identity stolen. These tips should be considered best practices and put into use daily.
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Set strong passwords- by “strong” we mean at least ten characters long. It should contain uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and a special character if available.
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Update security on all of your devices- install the latest security patches on your desktop, laptop, tablet and smart phone. These patches cover holes in the current security system that cyber criminals can exploit.
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Keep an eye out for phishing scams- these are emails and websites that are designed with invasive code that can steal your personal or financial information. Never click a link in an email unless you are 100% certain it is legitimate.
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Secure your internet connection- set a strong password for your home Wi-fi network, and be cautious about what information you send over a public Wi-fi network.
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Shop securely- before you type in any personal or payment information, look for two things: 1) the URL in the address should start with “https” and there should be a padlock or key icon in the address bar or in the lower corner of the page.
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Don’t put too much trust in the cloud- even the most secure cloud storage systems can be compromised. Save personal or financial information on “hard” or physical storage devices.
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Keep your personal information personal- don’t ever give out any personal information, account numbers or passwords to anyone. This is the easiest way to keep this information secure.
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Read a website’s privacy policies- though they seem like fine print, privacy policies tell you how your information is protected and how it is shared.
The harsh truth is that if you don’t protect yourself, no one is going to do it for you. Put these online security tips from Lincoln Savings Bank to use in order to help stay safe and secure online.
Lincoln Savings Bank, member FDIC
