The internet communication highway is a wealth of information that also makes it a giant target for potential cyber crimes. Businesses & individuals alike are at risk daily from having their data stolen whether it be important passwords, financial statements, or credit card numbers. The list below courtesy of propertycasualty360.com describes ways we can take the extra step to protect ourselves before a breach occurs & make your information less accessible to hackers.
General Security
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Make sure passwords are at least eight characters long and contain both uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as special characters.
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Consider using a phrase to help create your password. For example, “Jack and Jill went up the hill,” becomes “J_Jwuth.”
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Never use the “Remember Password” software feature offered by various applications
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Never use personal information when creating passwords
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Remember, the longer and more complicated the password, the less likely it is to be broken.
Mobile Security
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Turn on screen locking (e.g., password, PIN, swipe pattern) on your mobile device.
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Perform a factory reset to wipe all data when disposing an old mobile device.
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Avoid storing confidential or otherwise sensitive information on a mobile device, including passwords, bank account or credit card numbers.
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Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when they’re not needed.
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Delete text messages that contain sensitive information.
Home network security
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Make sure wireless networks are password protected.
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Consider changing default passwords for your network devices (e.g. modem or wireless access point) often.
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Never use personal information that can identify you or your location when creating wireless network names or passwords.
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Remember, protect yourself from malicious software by staying up to date on virus protection software.
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Consider visiting StaySafeOnline.org to learn how to keep kids safe on the web.