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Cyber Security Awareness Month

December 1, 2021 • By Kevin Alvarez

Webinar- Staying Safe On The Internet Without Breaking A Sweat

This free, one hour webinar about staying safe on the internet is presented by GreenPath Financial Wellness

If you are reading this, you probably use the internet often, most likely every day. We have heard time and again that we must be careful while online, but even the most diligent among us can take our online safety for granted. Staying safe on the internet can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Join us on Wednesday, December 8 at 10:00 pm PT as Leo Hopper, GreenPath’s Director of Information Security, offers some simple and useful tips on staying safe on the internet.

Click through each tab below to learn more.

  • Who Should Attend

  • What You Will Learn

  • Details

Who Should Attend

  • Anyone who uses the internet either regularly or sporadically
  • Those who shop online 
  • Those who would like to use the internet more, but are afraid that they will expose vital information

What You Will Learn

  • How to avoid common traps that can compromise you online
  • How to check site security before you use it
  • How to guard your personal information

Details

Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Time: 10:00 am PST

This webinar will be recorded and a link will be sent out to all registrants after the webinar.

Click the red button below to register.


Register Now

October 27, 2021 • By Kevin Alvarez

Free Webinar Spread Joy and Save Money: Make it a Happy and Financially Healthy Season

This free, one hour webinar about Financial Transformation is presented by GreenPath Financial Wellness

Are you already stressed about the upcoming holiday season? Join GreenPath to learn how to  maximize your dollars and create a memorable gift-giving season. We will help you create a plan to set yourself up for success for years to come.

Click through each tab below to learn more.

  • Who Should Attend

  • What You Will Learn

  • Details

Who Should Attend

  • Those that want to reduce stress during the holidays
  • Those who have experienced a change in their budget
  • Those that want to maximize the value of gifts given.

What You Will Learn

  • How to spread joy without impacting your wallet
  • Strategies for gift giving
  • How to create lasting memories

Details

Date: Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Time: 10:30 am PST


Register Now

October 22, 2021 • By Kevin Alvarez

Playing it Safe on the Internet. Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft – Recorded Webinar

If you are reading this, you use the internet. Over the years the internet has changed how we shop, communicate and consume our news. It has affected how we manage our funds and how we manage our lives. It is an amazing tool that has changed the world. Unfortunately, it is not always safe. There are people whose full-time job is to steal your personal information, which can directly impact your financial wellness.

In today's recorder webinar, brought to you by our partner GreenPath Financial Wellness, you will learn of simple steps which can be taken to be safer on the internet.

GreenPath Financial Wellness is a national nonprofit with 60+ years of helping people from all walks of life with building up their financial health and resiliency.

Director of Information Security with our partner, GreenPath Financial Wellness, joins us to share ways to stay safe online. Watch the recorded webinar below.

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

Greenpath Financial Wellness
GreenPath Financial Wellness

October 15, 2021 • By Kevin Alvarez

Safe Online Shopping

As technology continues to advance, more and more people from all age ranges have learned of the ease of access our personal computers and mobile devices provide for us, especially when it comes to online shopping. With the holiday season fast approaching, its time to review what can be done to keep your personal information safe while shopping online.

The benefits of online shopping are clear, stores are always open. Shipping is only a blink away, you don’t have to deal with crowds.  It’s easy to research and compare products before making a decision and you can find good deals with the click of a mouse. Even discount codes have been shared relentlessly only to further entice the convenience of online shopping.

Click on each tab below to learn more about the topic.

  • Online Risks

  • Online Shopping Tips

Online Risks

  • You don't always know if a website is secure.
  • You must use a credit or debit card.
  • It can be hard to return an item.
  •  Shipping costs can be expensive.
  • You aren't able to try on before you buy.
  • It's easy to overspend because online shopping can be addicting.

Online Shopping Tips

Keep these tips in mind and you'll be sure to be safe while shopping online:

  • Only provide private information to secure sites that have an “s” after the http (https://). Also, look for a padlock symbol next to the “https.”
  • Check if the website provides clear and detailed contact information. Scam websites often lack specific contact information like phone numbers and addresses.
  • See if there are reviews of a website if you are unsure about it.
  • Use a service like PayPal that doesn’t reveal your private information.
  • If you buy online, always check your credit card statement to make sure everything is correct and that there are not any unwanted or unknown charges.
  • Stick with popular websites that you trust.
  • Check the company’s privacy policy to see how they will use your information.
  • Never click on a random pop-up window. If you don’t know where it came from, close it! Pop-up windows can carry viruses.  If a website generates pop-up windows, you may even want to leave the website.
  • Never send private information, such as a credit card number or a checking account number, in e-mail.
  • In the event of fraud or unwanted charges, it will be more difficult to get your money back if you pay with a debit card than if you pay with a credit card.  Under the Fair Credit and Billing Act, your liability for a lost or stolen credit card is only $50.
  • Do not use an unsecured network or Internet connection to shop online.  Unsecured networks are typically found in public places such as a library or restaurant.

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.


 

October 8, 2021 • By Kevin Alvarez

Credit Reports – How to Get Your Annual Credit Report

How to Get Your Free Credit Report

The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACT Act) entitles you to receive a free copy of your credit report once a year from each of the reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The three companies have set up one central website, toll-free telephone number, and mailing address. You can request your free report either online, by phone or even mail by visiting www.AnnualCreditReport.com or calling 1-877-322-8228.

Should Consumers Order All Their Credit Reports at Once or Space Them Out Over 12 Months?

It is entirely your choice whether you order all three credit reports at the same time or order one now and others later. If you request all three at the same time, you can compare them, however you won’t be eligible for another free report for 12 months.  On the other hand, if you space them out, (for example, requesting one report every four months), you can keep track of any changes or new information that may appear on your report. If you order from only one company today you can still order from the other two companies in the future.

Consumer Alert! Beware of Ads Claiming "Free" Credit Reports

Many other websites claim to offer “free credit reports, free credit scores, or free credit monitoring.” But, be careful.  Their claims of “free” are not always no cost. These sites are not part of the official, government-mandated annual free credit report program. In most cases, these sites will provide you with a free credit report and score, and they will attempt to enroll you in some type of credit monitoring or protection service. Before signing up for such a service, do your research and determine if it’s something that you really need. The Federal Trade Commission has received complaints from consumers who thought they were ordering a free annual credit report, but instead paid hidden fees or agreed to unwanted services. Don’t be fooled by misleading TV ads, e-mail offers, or online search results.

Other Situations That Warrant Getting a Free Credit Report

Under federal law, you may be entitled to a free credit report if a company takes “adverse action” against you such as denying an application for credit, insurance, or employment, based on information in the report. In addition, other circumstances include unemployment, receiving welfare benefits, and any report of fraud (including identity theft).

Is it Important to Review Your Credit Report Frequently?

Yes, absolutely! The information in a person’s credit report is used to evaluate applications for credit, loans, insurance, and employment. Therefore, making sure that your information on your credit report is accurate and up-to-date is very important.

It may be helpful to go over your credit report with one of our financial wellness counselors.  Call us to get started today.

GreenPath Financial Wellness
GreenPath Financial Wellness

October 10, 2020 • By Kevin Alvarez

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), which is a collaborative effort between government and industry sectors to raise awareness of the importance of cyber security. With the added need for objectivity with navigating through a pandemic, handling working from home, child care and more recently; the start of the academic school year for children-which now happens to demand a new added level of responsibility for parents in regards to online learning-many people have and could fall victim to the influx of online security breaches. Working from home means even more attention is needed for your work space security, especially with the fact that your IT department isn’t readily available to assist with issues as they would in the office. Fortunately, there are plenty of preventative actions that can be done to keep any and all information properly secured.

Cybersecurity IT Professionals

Cybersecurity Basics: What To Do

Your password is the first line of defense from keeping people out of your personal/sensitive online accounts. Passwords should be lengthy, mixed with upper and lower case letters as well as numeric and special characters such as (!@#$%^&*_). These all add to making it difficult for unauthorized access.

Cybersecurity Password Management

Wi-Fi management dashboards have been a growing provided resource from internet service providers that assist with monitoring your internet connection. This allows you to view who and what devices are connected to your network, allowing you to instantly identify and disconnect any unauthorized device(s) connected to your Wi-Fi network. If you come across any challenges with finding such page/service on your internet service provider’s website, consider finding a customer support phone number to call directly for assistance with finding a Wi-Fi management dashboard.

Cybersecurity Working from home

Most routers come with encryption enabled from the start (WPA2 or WPA3). If for any reason you notice that there are no encryption labels when logging onto your Wi-Fi network or read a disclaimer in the router set-up booklet, then reach out to your internet service provider to assist with properly encrypting your internet connection to prevent unauthorized usage/access of your wireless network.

Where you store your laptop/smart devices should be secured. Consider storing your laptop in the less public areas of your home to avoid the possibility of intruders running off with the possible access of your online accounts. Given how the pandemic has kept everyone at home, people have been making more purchases with online retailers, so both computers and smart devices should be seen as sensitive items if they are not already.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) also known as two-factor authentication, this serves as an added layer of security for the login process. This is done by verifying the login attempt through another unique account by a verification text, call or even an email. For example, if someone is attempting to log onto an account that has MFA in place, they would need to have access to the location of the second factor authentication. Unless they have access to your phone or email, the login attempt will be stopped due to being unable to provide the security code sent to the second factor authentication. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommend using multi-factor authentication on all accounts that have your personal data, such as your primary email, financial accounts, as well as health records.

Cybersecurity Two step authentication

Fraudulent Emails/Texts, What To Look Out For

Approach COVID-19 related emails, texts and/or links with caution. Many scammers have been taking advantage of the biggest stand-still as an excuse to target people’s vulnerabilities through emotions. Scammers have always come up with deceitful and malicious strategies of obtaining personal information. The latest method being used in light of COVID-19 has been “Phishing”, which is when fake emails are sent to people trying to pose as a legitimate company or person that they may have some sort of social relationship with.

An example of such practice is scammers sending an email or text message saying “We suspect an unauthorized transaction on your account. To ensure that your account is not compromised, please click on the link below, and confirm your identity.” Never click on links of emails that you deem fraudulent. To verify, call the company directly from a number you have used previously. Never use lines of communication listed in suspicious emails, such as customer support numbers. They will most likely direct to the scammer in an attempt to convince you they are legitimate.

Cybersecurity Coronavirus (COVID-19) Scams

There are many key indicators for spotting a fake email. Scammers seem to be in quite the hurry when typing their fake emails, and that alone serves in our favor for identifying the real from the fake. From the subject line to the closing of the email and everything in between, there is plenty of opportunity for spotting obvious errors. There are several key identifiers that can help to uncover what is and isn’t a phishing email attempt, such as :

  • Grammar – Phishing emails often contain grammatical mistakes that make it obvious it’s some sort of illegitimacy. Names, email addresses, as well as the body of emails are all prone to OBVIOUS grammatical mistakes. If you are skeptical of any received emails, simply reach out to the known legitimate source in the manner you usually do to conduct your communication with, in order to verify if the email is legitimate or not.
  • Logos – When it comes to branding, companies use their logo to be as clear as possible to assure brand awareness. A logo that is pixelated, blurry or simply low quality often means that scammers copied and pasted the logo onto their email, meaning they do not work for the company. So remember, companies and organizations would not let a bad image of their logo be displayed to their consumers, a blurry logo is a sign of a scammer attempting to steal your information.

Take the time to make the needed adjustments to help ensure a safe and reliable home internet network as well as taking the necessary steps towards preventing scammers from breaching your personal accounts.

Additional Resources

Tips and resources for reducing cybersecurity risks and protecting yourself online >>

SafeAmerica Website Privacy Policy >>

Coronavirus Scams
5 Tips for Managing Your Finances Through Covid-19 and Beyond

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