Protecting Your Personal Information from Hackers
Living in a world that is becoming increasingly digital, it can be difficult to keep your personal information safe. With March being Fraud Prevention Month, we want to share some tips on how you can protect your personal information.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
It’s always smart to have an extra layer of protection. Enabling multi-factor authentication does exactly that. If a hacker found out the password to an account, they still would need to bypass the multi-factor authentication. Most times, you must enter a correct code sent to your email or phone number, use face ID, or provide a fingerprint. Setting up multi-factor authentication only takes a few minutes and can save you from all the time you’d spend stressing out if you got hacked.
Keep Devices Updated
It’s very important to update your devices regularly, as most updates provide better security. The longer you go without updating your devices, the easier it is for hackers to get into your devices. To make sure you stay up to date with updates, you can allow the updates to happen automatically when they come out. Most of the time they will update during the night when you don’t need your device.
Never Reuse Passwords
You might want to reuse passwords because it’s easier to remember, but that’s not always the safest option. A hacker can figure out one password and then try it for other accounts. Reusing the same password for all your accounts makes it easy for hackers to compromise them. If you worry about keeping track of and remembering your passwords, you can use a password manager to store them.
Use Secure Wi-Fi
It’s best to avoid using public Wi-Fi, especially if you’re accessing any financial information. Public Wi-Fi usually isn’t secure, making it easier for hackers to gain access to your information. You should also make sure your home Wi-Fi is secure and has a strong password.
Manage Your Digital Footprint
If your social media accounts are public, you might be giving away information that hackers can use. For example, they could learn your birthday or your pet’s name. If you use either of these pieces of information in your password, a hacker could guess your password. Be mindful of the things you post, especially if you have a public account. Making your account private can help reduce the risk that someone will compromise your personal information.
Delete Unused Accounts
You may have some accounts that you completely forgot about. You should delete your account whenever you’re done using a service. This helps you avoid leaving a ton of accounts just sitting and waiting to be hacked. If someone hacks an account you no longer use, you might not even notice, which can create bigger issues.
If you’d like to learn more about how to protect your personal information, download our fraud prevention guide.