Top 5 Digital Safety Strategies
According to Pew Research Center, roughly 31% of Americans are online constantly. Not only does this mean that we spend lots of time on screens but also we are widening our digital footprints. This can expose us to data breeches and weaken our data privacy. In 2023, the FBI reported that over $12.5 billion dollars were potentially lost to cybercriminals. There are many steps you can take and habits to fold in to protect your data and identity. Here are a few to your current practices.
Change your browser to a secured setting with https enabled. You can do this by going into your settings and adjusting into your preferences and options. If you have to use public wireless, use a secured browser and a VPN (virtual private network) to keep your data safe. There are free VPN’s you can download and use.
Create unique, strong passwords for each site that you log into. This extra step on your part protects you from cyber attacks such as credential stuffing. If you don’t want to write these down in a secure location, consider a password manager which can cost approximately $30 a year.
Protect and guard your cell phone number. This will protect your identity and finances. Our cell numbers are unique numbers that we share with banks and apps so that we can gain access to social media and our other accounts. But hackers can also monitor a cell number and use it gain access to accounts that aren’t theirs. Check your cell service provider’s SIM protection.
Use two-factor authentication for your banking and any sensitive accounts. When researching new companies to work with (banks, etc), choose only those that protect your data and privacy and use two-factor authentication.
Check your accounts regularly to monitor for unusual activity. Credit Karma allows you to monitor your credit and scores for free. Regular monitoring of charges, etc. will help you become aware of mistakes and potential fraud sooner than later.
These ideas were inspired by a podcast interview with Donna Peterson, retired supervisory special agent and speaker on the topic of cybersecurity on Catching Up to Fi episode 078. You can learn more at the Federal Trade Commission site and many more. Good luck and keep practicing and sharing with loved ones the many ways to protect your identity, data, and finances.
