With how busy life can get, people have always turned to technology to make their lives easier. The widespread use of computers, phones, and tablets allows us to do business more quickly and efficiently. You may depend on these devices to help you keep track of your finances.

As technology makes work easier, it can also make life more difficult. Hackers, scammers, and other bad actors can sneak into your online interactions and steal what you value most: your peace of mind.

Online thieves aim to steal your sensitive information, which can involve many things. They use this information to impersonate others, conduct fraudulent transactions, and threaten your finances. The information they steal includes:

• Name and address
• Social Security Number
• Credit cards and payment information
• Account credentials and logins
• Financial information and documents
  

Identity theft can disrupt your daily life. Therefore, it is essential to protect your information by practicing smart online safety habits. Here are a few things we recommend to help you get started.

Protect Your Account Credentials

Chances are, you have several accounts that you use to access various services online. A strong and unique password should protect every account you have.  

Passwords are often the first, and sometimes only, line of defense to prevent strangers from accessing your accounts. Therefore, you want to make your passwords difficult to guess but easy for you to remember.

There are many ways to make a strong password. The AARP has a handy write-up to help you get started. Generally speaking, the recommendations include:

• Make a long password
• Use at least 12 characters
• Try stringing random phrases together
• Use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters
• Have a unique password for each of your accounts
  

Once you’ve set your password, it’s time to keep it safe. Never write it down or place it as a note on a device. Doing so is like keeping your house key in the lock of your front door.

If remembering many passwords is daunting, try a password manager. This software stores and encrypts your passwords. On top of that, it can streamline logging into your most-used accounts.

Most managers will have you set up a single “master password,” which you will use to access everything else. This can make it easier to access your accounts while simplifying which passwords you need to remember.

Popular web browsers may offer their own version of a password manager. You can also search the Internet for the most reliable and well-reviewed options.

Use Multi-Factor Authentication Where Possible

You can never be too careful when it comes to online security. Many online services allow users to enable multi-factor authentication, also known as “MFA.” This feature adds an extra layer of protection to your account.

At its basic level, an MFA prompts you to take extra action to confirm that you are the actual user trying to access the account.

MFA takes different forms. One of its most common applications involves “pinging” a different device you own to confirm you’re trying to log in from another one. So, if you’re trying to access an account on a computer, the MFA might text your phone and prompt you to confirm you’re signing in.

Multi-factor authentication is a great way to monitor who may be trying to access your accounts. For instance, if you get pinged and are not currently trying to access anything, that’s a sign that your security may have been compromised. With MFA, you can directly deny unauthorized access and change your password.

Your financial institution may offer the option to enable MFA for your account. Try it and discover how it can protect your peace of mind.

Back up and Secure Your Data

As online and digital platforms become more popular for transactions, you may have noticed that many documents are being sent and kept digitally.

Digital copies of things are easier to access and can even reduce the amount of paper waste in your life. At the same time, they can pose a security risk if you aren’t careful.

The rise of e-documents brought great convenience to our lives. Just like the paper version, digital documents can include:

• Invoices
• Receipts
• Account numbers
• Personally identifiable information
  

Always treat these types of e-documents with the respect you would a printed document. Store copies of these files in a safe place that is accessible to you but inaccessible to strangers.

It is highly recommended that you back up important digital documents and files on a separate drive. Make a habit of backing up your data at regular intervals. Place the drive in a secure location only you and the people you trust know.

Cybersecurity Awareness Starts With You

We’ve covered a lot about protecting access to your online accounts and personal information. However, this is only a fraction of a wide-ranging discipline.

You can brush up on your cybersecurity knowledge by viewing some of our previous write-ups on other topics:

• Identifying scams
• Preventing email phishing
• Stopping fraud over the phone or texts
• Weeding out imposters
  

First Florida wishes you a very SAFE Cybersecurity Awareness Month. For more information on how to protect your sensitive information, visit our Scam and Fraud Education page.