SafeAmerica Credit Union

cyber attack

• By Kevin Alvarez

Own Your Role in Cybersecurity: Start with the Basics

Every individual should own their role in protecting their information and securing their systems and devices. There are many steps individuals can take to enhance their cybersecurity without requiring a significant investment or the help of an information security professional. Below, the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) highlights eight tips you can put into action now:

Definition of Cybersecurity:

Measures taken to protect a computer or computer system (as on the internet) against unauthorized access or attack.

Cybersecurity Basics:

Make a Long and Unique Passphrase

Length trumps complexity. A strong passphrase is a sentence that is at least 12 characters long. Focus on positive sentences or phrases that you like to think about and are easy to remember.

Passphrases Are Not Enough

Use 2-factor authentication or multi-factor authentication (like biometrics, security keys or a unique, one-time code through an app on your mobile device) whenever offered.

When in Doubt, Throw it out

Links in email, tweets, texts, posts, social media messages and online advertising are the easiest way for cyber criminals to get your sensitive information. Be wary of clicking on links or downloading anything that comes from a stranger or that you were not expecting. Essentially, just don't trust links.

Keep a Clean Machine

Keep all software on internet connected devices - inlcuding personal computers, smartphones and tablets - current to reduce risk of infection from ransomware and malware. Configure your devices to automatically update or to notify you when an update is available.

Back it Up

Protect your valuable work, music, photos and other digital information by making an electronic copy and storing it safetly. if you have a copy of your data and your device falls victim to ransomware or other cyber threats, you will be able to restore the data from a backup. Use the 3-2-1 rule as a guide to backing up your data. The rule is: keep at least three (3) copies of your data, and store two (2) back up copies on different storage media, with one (1) of them located offsite.

Own your Online Presence

Every time your sign up for a new account, download a new app, or get a new device, immediately configure the privacy and security settings to your comfort level for information sharing. Regularly check these settings (at least once a year) to make sure they are still configured to your comfort.

Share with Care

Think before posting about yourself and others online. Consider what a post reveals, who might see it and how it might affect you or others. Consider creating an alternate persona that you use for online profiles to limit how much of your own personal information you share.

Get Savvy About WIFI Hotspots

Public wireless networks and hotspots are not secure, which means that anyone could potentially see what you are doing on your laptop or smartphone while you're connected to them. Limit what you do on public WiFi and avoid logging in to key accounts like email and financial services. Consider using a virtual private network (VPN) or a personal/mobile hotspot if you need a more secure connection.

 

SafeAmerica understands the level of security needed to stay secure while on the internet and during National Cyber Security Awareness Month, we want to help inform our members of the best practices for staying safe online and keeping sensitive information secure.

Keep an eye out every week this month for new blog posts on the best practices during the time you spend online. Safe for surfing the web.

• By Lisa Eddy

Protect Your Private Information and Financial Records from Hackers

There are several ways you can better safeguard your financial information.  In the wake of the recent CapitalOne data breach, it's only natural to start thinking about how you can protect your own personal data.  These few, simple tips will not only help protect you and your financial integrity, but can also give you peace of mind knowing you're armed with the knowledge it takes to stay safe.

Maintain a Strong Password
Don’t use insecure passwords like 12345678, “Password” or personal information such as birthdate, name, or SSN. In addition, don’t use the same password for multiple sites. Secure passwords have a combination of upper and lower case characters, numbers, special characters such as #, $, and are 8 characters or longer.

Check your accounts regularly
Look over your credit card and banking statements and report any suspicious activity to the financial institution as soon as possible.

Freeze your Credit
If you suspect any suspicious activity you can freeze your account.  No one can access your personal information while your account is frozen. Therefore, fraudulent loans cannot be taken out in your name because the lenders cannot access your credit report. Visit the three credit bureaus online, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion to place a freeze.

Just remember, once you place the freeze, you cannot access the report either unless you ask the credit bureaus to unfreeze it.

Check your Credit Score
Pull your credit reports from three credit bureaus. Each one gives you one free credit report every year. If you see any suspicious activity, like new accounts opened without your knowledge, alert the credit bureau and credit lender.

Stay Vigilant
Sign up for a credit monitoring service. Your lender or financial institution might even offer it.

Watch out for Scams
Don’t take up offers from creditors via phone calls or emails unless you have called them using phone numbers found on the legitimate website.

Secure Websites
During web browsing, only visit secure sites. Reputable sites begin with “https://”. The "s" is crucial and indicates the site is secure.