Five Steps for Better Online Security

Ensuring your online safety is crucial to protect yourself from various types of online scams. Take the necessary steps to improve your online safety by following these steps:

Use Extra Security Layers: Passwords can be easily cracked by scammers, and even strong ones can be stolen in a data breach. To enhance your security, you can add an extra layer of protection called Multi Factor Authentication (MFA). This means that besides your password, you need to provide one more piece of information to access your accounts. It could be a fingerprint scan, a code sent to your phone or something only you have. Whenever possible, enable MFA on all your accounts to keep them safer. You can check your account settings to see if this option is available and set it up for added protection.
Update Your Privacy Settings: Privacy settings are tools that let you manage the information you share online, such as your name, address, phone number, date of birth, financial details, photos and videos. By reviewing and updating these settings, you can decide who can access and use your personal information. It's essential to do this for all your accounts, including social media. Think about limiting who can see your friends list, contacts, photos and posts to ensure your information stays more secure.
Activate Automatic Updates: Automatic updates are like regular check-ups for your apps, software or operating system. When the developer finds a problem or wants to make improvements, they send out these updates without you needing to do anything. Sometimes, cybercriminals can find weaknesses in the software and put harmful stuff on your devices. But if you turn on automatic updates, your system will automatically fix those weaknesses to keep your data safe.
Use a Password Manager or Create Strong Passphrases: A password manager is like a safe box for all your login details. It keeps your usernames and passwords in a secure place so you don't have to remember them all. With a password manager, you can create strong and unique passwords for each of your online accounts. If you can't get a password manager, you can use strong passphrases instead. A passphrase is a longer and more complicated combination of random words or a sentence. Using a passphrase makes it really tough for scammers to guess or figure out your passwords. It adds an extra layer of security to your accounts.
Learn the Elements of a Phishing Attempt: Learn about the signs of a phishing email. These emails often create a feeling of urgency and contain many mistakes in spelling and grammar. If they ask for your personal information, be cautious. If you receive an unusual email, try reaching out to the company using a different method to verify if they sent it. If the email seems suspicious, mark it as spam.

It is of great importance to safeguard your online well-being and shield yourself from the various forms of online scams. By implementing essential measures to enhance your online safety, you significantly decrease the risk of falling victim to online scams. Prioritizing online security empowers you to navigate the digital landscape with confidence and peace of mind, knowing that you have taken the right steps to safeguard your personal information and financial assets.

Vision Bank is committed to empowering our communities through financial education, offering valuable insights and resources to safeguard against fraud and ensure a secure financial future. Stay informed and up to date with our informative blogs to stay ahead in protecting your financial well-being.