After a few days of reading the news, it’s difficult to miss a major data breach that could expose millions of customers’ data to criminals. These are some tips to make sure your personal data doesn’t get infected.
Create strong passwords
Think beyond numbers and words that a cybercriminal could easily guess when creating a password. For example, your birthday. You should use a combination of lower- and upper-case letters, numbers and symbols, and keep them updated. A password manager tool is a great way to keep track of your passwords and create unique passwords that you can use across different sites.
Do not overshare on social media
Everybody has that one friend who posts too much personal information about their lives online. This can be both annoying and dangerous. You should check your privacy settings to see who is seeing your posts. Also, be careful when you post your hometown, birthday, or any other personal information.
Be careful when using Wi-Fi free of charge
Online shopping is a great way to save money. The majority of public Wi-Fi networks are free and have few security features. This means that others could access your activities. Before you open a credit card, wait until your home is secure and password-protected before you do that.
Be on the lookout for attachments and links
Cybercriminals can be sneaky and make phishing scams appear to come from legitimate companies such as banks, utilities, or other corporations. A suspicious email could be identified by spelling mistakes or an email address that is different from the usual sender.
Verify that the site is secured
Take a look at your browser’s top before you enter personal information on a website. The site is considered secure if it has a lock symbol on the URL and begins with “https”. You can also check if the site has a privacy policy or contact information to see if it is trustworthy.
Remove Public Records
There are a number of data broker websites that buy and sell your personal information. How do they get your information? They collect it from public records and sell it to marketing companies. There are a number of companies that remove your information from the internet. We recommend checking out some how-to guides available online. This guide shows you how to opt out of CheckPeople.
Take into account additional protection
Install anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Cyber insurance can provide additional protection in the event of a cyberattack. Our experts at Chubb are available to help you assess your cyber vulnerabilities and cover fraudulent charges. They can also provide emotional support for your family.
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