Protect Your Data
/Every year, as we prepare for the holidays, I can’t help but wonder how many people will fall victim to a fraudster or a scam artist. As a firm, we’d like to help you avoid the stress of trying to unwind the damage done by bad actors. So, this year, let’s take some time to help protect ourselves and our loved ones by remembering the four following things:
1) Slow down – One common way criminals manipulate their victims is by creating a sense of urgency. If you receive a phone call or an email urging you to do something like change a password or send money right away, slow down and find a way to verify if the situation is legitimate or not. Review the source of the email, don’t click on links you aren’t sure about, and unless you requested to change your password, don’t ever enter login credentials using an unsolicited link. If you get a call from an unknown number, let it go to voicemail. They’ll leave a message if it’s important and you can call back later.
2) Update your passwords – Don’t use the same password for every website you log into. The most recent cybersecurity guidance recommends using a unique 12-to-15-character credential for each website to make it harder for cybercriminals to crack. Consider using pass phrases instead of passwords. If you can’t remember all those passwords or don’t want to make them up yourself, then think about using a password manager to help you with creating and tracking secure passwords. And finally, don’t reuse old passwords that may have already been hacked or stored in previous data breach incidents.
3) Avoid juice jacking – You may be wondering what fruit juice has to do with scams, but what I’m referring to here is actually a type of cyberattack. Traveling for the holidays can be stressful and sometimes we need a little extra charge to get us through our extended airport stays. Juice jacking uses a USB charging port to steal data or infect a phone or other mobile device with malware. If you need to charge your phone on the go, we suggest carrying a personal battery backup or making sure you bring along the power plug, not just the USB charging cable.
4) Shopping online –If you’re shopping online this holiday season, be sure to use a credit card for protection against fraud and to place another barrier between cybercriminals and your bank account. Also, when shopping online, verify that any website requesting personal or payment information has ‘https’ in the URL. This code means data you’re sending through the website is encrypted, making it more secure. If you’re buying from an individual on a marketplace, check for positive seller ratings before making a purchase.
Remember and share this information to help protect yourself and your loved ones from falling prey to a cyber or financial crime. We wish you all a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season!
- Margaret Gooley, CFP®, CDFA®, Worley Erhart-Graves Financial Advisors
