If online security is not something you think about often it should be, we not only spend a great deal of time online, but we manage much of our life online as well. Our online activities can include banking and managing our financial accounts, paying bills, accessing our medical records, shopping and more.

Here are some suggestions for staying safe online.

Passwords and MFA

Use the strongest security settings that are available for all of your online accounts. Most sites now offer MFA (Multifactor Authentication) This adds an additional layer of security to your accounts, instead of needing just a password to login you will need a second and possibly third method of authentication before you can access your account.

Choose a strong password for every site and never use the same password twice. Use a password manager to protect your login information. Most password managers come with a password generator that will create a strong password for you. A password should contain a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters and should be as long as possible. Change your passwords several times a year and anytime there is a security breach, or you believe someone may have access to your account.

Assign a strong password to log into your computer and protect your mobile phone and other devices with a secure login method.

Watch Where You Shop

Online stores are everywhere and almost every website you visit contains ad’s and popups to online shopping sites, but be careful where you shop and what you click on. Never shop at a site you are not sure of or one that seems questionable, the web address should show a padlock symbol and begin with “https” to indicate it is secure.

Only shop on well-known and familiar websites. Clicking a random link or ad can lead you to a malicious site which may look completely genuine but is run by criminals.

You can check a site at The Better Business Bureau and use their Scam Tracker to report and lookup scams.

Limit the information you provide to online shopping sites. There is no reason an online store needs to know your birthday, middle name, or any other personal details. You should only need to provide your payment information, name and address.  

Never shop when connected to public Wi-Fi where your information can easily be intercepted and stolen.

Always use a credit card, never a debit card to make online purchases. Credit cards offer better protection and are not directly linked to your bank account. You might consider getting a credit card with a lower credit limit strictly for online shopping, keeping it separate from your other credit card accounts.

Don’t save your payment information online. If a website is compromised any information saved in your account can be stolen.

Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi & Public Computers

Public Wi-Fi is everywhere, stores, coffee shops, the airport, hotels and more, but public Wi-Fi is not secure, and it is an easy target for hackers. If you must connect to public Wi-Fi never visit any sites that require you to login like email, banking and other financial sites.  And use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to prevent criminals from accessing your private data.

Avoid using public computers. These computers are often loaded with keystroke loggers and other malware so anything you do on the computer can be seen and stolen.

Avoid Suspicious Links & Attachments

Don’t click on any links or attachments in email or text messages you are unsure of. These can direct you to malicious websites designed to steal your information and infect your devices with malware.

Don’t Share Personal Information

Social media is dangerous. Users often share far too much information about themselves, and the information can be used to steal your money and your identity. It can put your personal safety at risk and can lead to home robberies and other malicious activities. Anything you post or share resides on the social media sites server and can be copied and shared by other users. Even if you delete something you post it is still out there forever. Criminals scan social media sites and harvest information, they can pair that information with other data they have gathered about you from security breaches and other online sources and build a detailed profile on you which can be used for identity theft and other criminal activity. The less you share the better.

Keep Your Computer & Other Devices Up to Date

Install operating system and app updates as soon as they are available. These updates keep you safe by patching security holes and vulnerabilities. They also improve performance and install new features.

Be Careful What You Download

Be careful when installing new programs and apps. Make sure you are getting the software from a reputable source. Malware is often hidden in software downloads.

Be Careful Meeting People Online

Many times, people you meet online are not who they claim to be. Fake profiles on social media, dating apps and other sites are a way for scammers to make a connection and trick you into providing personal and financial information which can lead to financial and identity theft and even physical harm.

Install Antivirus Software & Keep it Updated

Antivirus software protects you against viruses and malware. It cannot protect you against every online threat, but it can detect and remove most malicious software.

Adjust Security Settings

Marketers and hackers use security vulnerabilities in your browser to target you with ad’s, install malware and steal your information. Web browsers and mobile operating systems have security settings designed to protect you online. Websites also have their own security settings to enhance your privacy and keep your data safe. Enable the most restrictive security settings in your browser and on the websites you use to keep your data protected.

Backup Your Data

Protect your computer, mobile phone and other devices by having a backup plan in place so that your data is regularly and automatically backed up. Ideally you want three or more copies of your important data. The main copy and at least two other copies in completely separate physical locations such as an external hard drive or file server. When data loss happens, you want to be able to quickly and easily restore it.

Freeze Your Credit & Check Your Credit Reports

Freeze your credit with the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Transunion and Experian and check your credit reports often. Freezing your credit is one of the best ways to protect yourself against identity theft. When your reports are frozen no one can pull your reports or open lines of credit in your name. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit reports with all three agencies. Look at your reports to ensure they are accurate and don’t contain any errors or false information which could indicate identity theft. Go to Annual Credit Report to get your free reports.

Review Your Financial Accounts

Review your bank, credit card and other financial account statements monthly so that you spot any errors or unusual charges or other activity. Setup alerts on all of your accounts so that you are aware of any activity that takes place like withdrawals, password changes or other events. Sign up for digital delivery so that your statements, invoices and other correspondence is sent digitally instead of through the Post Office. Mail theft is a major problem, mail is stolen from personal mailboxes and the USPS collection boxes.

Shred Documents Containing Financial and Personal Information

Don’t throw documents containing personal information in the trash before shredding them. Anything that contains your full name, phone number, address, Social Security number, bank account information or other private data should be shredded. Examples are ATM receipts, bank and credit card statements, bills and invoices, pay stubs, credit card offers and old credit and debit cards.