{"id":1001,"date":"2015-07-15T17:02:23","date_gmt":"2015-07-15T17:02:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/walltitus.wpengine.com\/?p=1001"},"modified":"2019-07-21T04:26:10","modified_gmt":"2019-07-21T04:26:10","slug":"keep-your-information-safe-from-hackers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/walltitus.com\/keep-your-information-safe-from-hackers\/","title":{"rendered":"Keep Your Information Safe From Hackers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Via GetRichSlowly<\/a><\/p>\n

5 Ways to Keep Your Financial Information Safer from Hackers<\/h2>\n

by Lisa Aberle<\/p>\n

Hey, do you mind if I try to guess one of your passwords? No? Okay, how about \u201c123456\u2033 or \u201cpassword\u201d? Maybe \u201cMax123\u2033 or \u201cBella2011\u2033?<\/p>\n

Although I hope no readers are using any of these passwords currently, \u201c123456\u2033 and \u201cpassword\u201d are among the most common passwords chosen. And \u201cMax\u201d and \u201cBella\u201d? Those are some of the most popular pet names; and since pet names are commonly used too \u2014 Well \u2026<\/p>\n

I am no hacker, and I spend very little time thinking about hackers. I wouldn\u2019t hack into someone else\u2019s information, so why would anyone think about hacking into my information?<\/p>\n

It happens. Every day, it happens to ordinary citizens. Tomorrow it may be you or me. Are we being as smart as possible online to protect our financial information?<\/p>\n

While these tips will not always refer specifically to keeping your financial information safe, I want you to consider something: The more information hackers can learn about you, the more they can guess. If you act carelessly with your Facebook account, you could be indirectly compromising your sensitive information, which could possibly include your banking relationships.<\/p>\n

Basic street smarts in cyberspace<\/h3>\n

In real life, most of us shy away from rough neighborhoods. We lock our cars and install security systems in our houses. But we\u2019re strangely lax when we\u2019re online.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s review a few basic guidelines.<\/p>\n

Use a security code for your smartphone or tablet and a password for your computer.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t send personal or financial information via email.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t click on links you didn\u2019t expect in pop-up windows or what could be phishing emails.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t share your password or username.<\/p>\n

Keep current with the latest software updates which are often released to patch some holes.<\/p>\n

1. Pay attention to your passwords<\/h3>\n

Now that we have the basics out of the way, let\u2019s talk about passwords. If you are using \u201c123456\u2033 as a password, it\u2019s got to go now! A few years ago, I naively contributed to its popularity too (oops!). Then I found a statistic somewhere that said up to 50 percent of Internet users use \u201c123456\u2033 for their pass phrase, so I changed it to something with words and one number. To help me remember, I also used that password for almost all of my online surfing. Not much better. I can\u2019t find that statistic today, but I mention it because it did cause me to change what I was doing.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to make your passwords tough to crack:<\/p>\n

Do not use the same password for multiple sites or logins.<\/p>\n

Do not use your name or other commonly known information or anything else that could be easily guessed or researched.This could include names of family members or pets. How could hackers find out that information? More on that in a minute.<\/p>\n

Use combinations of upper- and lower-case letters, along with numbers and special characters if allowed.<\/p>\n

Make the password as long as possible. Hackers use programs to guess your password, so longer passwords take longer to guess. Make them tired so they move on to someone else.<\/p>\n

We violate the above rules for good reason: it\u2019s hard to remember one password, let alone many complicated passwords, isn\u2019t it? While you can allow your browser to store your logins to websites, this isn\u2019t the most secure option either. If your computer is hacked, those passwords may also be accessed.<\/p>\n

There is another solution. Password managers encrypt your password database and create random passwords. Everything is hidden behind a master password that you must key in and the master password is not stored on the password manager company\u2019s servers. Examples of these password managers include LastPass, KeePass, and 1Password \u2014and there are others.<\/p>\n

2. Keep your information private when using public Wi-Fi<\/h3>\n

I wonder how much of your private information has been viewed while you\u2019re sipping your latte at Starbucks. That brings a whole new meaning to the term \u201cLatte Factor\u00ae,\u201d right?
\nFirst, if possible, avoid visiting any websites that are sensitive until you are at home on a more private Internet connection.<\/p>\n

When using public Wi-Fi, specify the connection as a public connection so your computer doesn\u2019t share information. (If you specify a private connection, your computer may become discoverable and accessible.)<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t allow file- or printer-sharing. Also turn off network discovery or Bluetooth capability for devices to keep your files safer. (For PCs, turning off Bluetooth and network discovery is done through the Network and Internet portion of the Control Panel.)<\/p>\n

Also, make sure your firewall is on. (This is checked under System and Security under the Control Panel for PCs.)<\/p>\n

To be extra safe, you can use a virtual private network (VPN) to increase the privacy and security of your computer\u2019s Internet connection.<\/p>\n

3. Surf safely<\/h3>\n

After all your precautions, you want to be able to visit websites safely too. First of all, don\u2019t store your credit card details on websites. And when you visit websites, make sure to look at the browser\u2019s address bar. You want to see \u201chttps\u201d instead of \u201chttp,\u201d especially if you are purchasing something or sharing information.
\nYou\u2019ll definitely see \u201chttps\u201d when you\u2019re doing online banking. If you want to log in to your online savings account, for example, you should make sure that you\u2019re actually logging in to a secure site. If you verify that \u201chttps\u201d appears in your browser bar whenever you log in, you can feel confident that you\u2019re not landing on a fake banking page.<\/p>\n

4. Be smart with social media<\/h3>\n

Haven\u2019t we all rolled our eyes when a friend shares too much on Facebook? Well, everyone should know that oversharing on social media has more sinister side effects too. You really don\u2019t know who is watching. If you would shred the paper version, don\u2019t post the electronic version, you know?<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t accept social media invites from people you don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t participate in any of the \u201c10 Things You Don\u2019t Know About Me\u201d posts either. Why? Some of the answers are answers to security questions that are supposed to secure your financial questions.<\/p>\n

Periodically check your security settings on social media and tweak them if necessary.<\/p>\n

Social media scams exist and try to get you to click on URLs that install malware or take you to phishing sites as well. You don\u2019t have to eliminate social media from your life, but maybe don\u2019t be so click-happy.<\/p>\n

Customize your posts to control what is seen. Never share pictures of your paycheck or driver\u2019s license, for example.<\/p>\n

Turn off geo-tagging on Facebook of when you will be home or when you won\u2019t be home \u2014 or turn off social geo-tagging.<\/p>\n

5. Keep your email secure<\/h3>\n

Even if your email account hasn\u2019t been hacked, I\u2019m guessing you have received emails from a friend\u2019s account that has been hacked. Try these tips to keep your information safe (and your friends\u2019 inboxes safe too).<\/p>\n

Consider using more than one email account. Share one with your family and friends, use one for online shopping and newsletter sign-ups, and another one for sensitive information, such as retirement accounts or credit card accounts. Why a separate one for online shopping or newsletter sign-ups? Your information is bound to be sold at some point, so why not have a junk email address to give away?<\/p>\n

You may want to change your email address from time to time, or if it has been compromised.<\/p>\n

Change your email password periodically.<\/p>\n

Use an email service that offers two-factor authorization. An example of two-factor authorization is: If you are logging in to your Gmail account on a computer that you have never used before, a 4-digit PIN is sent to your phone that you have to input after you have put in your actual password.<\/p>\n

This seems counter-intuitive, but don\u2019t unsubscribe to newsletters to which you have never subscribed. Sneaky people blast unsuspecting email users and, by unsubscribing to these newsletters, you\u2019ll actually get more spam. Instead, use the report-spam feature of your email provider if there is one. (Personal note: I used to just delete suspicious emails, but I have an itchy report-spam finger now.)<\/p>\n

Signs of phishing: misspelling, suspicious links, asking for personal information or suggesting you give out your personal information (as in, they need your login information because something has changed).<\/p>\n

Security questions deserve special attention. When I worked at a bank years ago, one of our customers had his mother\u2019s maiden name printed on his checks. That\u2019s making it way too easy for someone to answer your security questions and reset your passwords. You don\u2019t want that.\u00a0So make it as hard as you possibly can.\u00a0<\/span>Answer the security questions incorrectly\u00a0<\/span>or better yet, create some randomized set of numbers, letters, and special characters.\u00a0Whatever you do, do not answer the question with something you just posted on Facebook.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your online information is like a puzzle. Facebook is one piece. Your email account is another. If you make it too easy to put some of the pieces together, hackers can start to see the whole picture of your life, including your financial accounts.
\nYes, you need to be careful online. No, you don\u2019t need to go analog in a digital world. But you do need to be very careful. Start by evaluating these five areas of your digital life and fill in the gaps where needed. Once you have made some improvements with these areas, there is more to learn, including more about how to increase the security of your home Internet connection.<\/p>\n

Has your information ever been hacked? Share your tips: How do you keep your financial information safe online?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Via GetRichSlowly 5 Ways to Keep Your Financial Information Safer from Hackers by Lisa Aberle Hey, do you mind if I try to guess one of your passwords? No? Okay, how about \u201c123456\u2033 or \u201cpassword\u201d? Maybe \u201cMax123\u2033 or \u201cBella2011\u2033? Although I hope no readers are using any of these passwords currently, \u201c123456\u2033 and \u201cpassword\u201d are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":776,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13,9,41,17,1,33],"tags":[118,21,119,120,10,26,121,122,51,23],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/walltitus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1001"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/walltitus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/walltitus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walltitus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walltitus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1001"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/walltitus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1001\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walltitus.com\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/walltitus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walltitus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walltitus.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}