This time of year is all about giving thanks. All of us at Heritage Financial are thankful for our clients, partners, co-workers, and friends – new and old. We hope your plates and hearts are full this coming Thanksgiving day.
For many, once the plates are cleared the shopping begins. Estimated sales for both Black Friday and Cyber Monday are impressive at $17 billion and nearly $12 billion, respectively. And more than half of 2021’s holiday shopping is expected to occur online. In light of that, Chief Operating Officer, Ann Smith, has some tips for practicing good “cyber hygiene”.
Implement Multi-Factor Authentication On Your Accounts
Multi-factor authentication is a type of security that requires two or more methods to verify your identity. This type of authentication makes it difficult for cyber thieves to gain access to your accounts. In fact, experts estimate enabling multi-factor authentication on your account makes it 99% less likely you will get hacked.
Update Your Software
Since companies release updates to patch security vulnerabilities, having the latest software updates is very important to protect your devices and accounts. These updates include your phones and other personal computing devices like tablets.
Think Before You Click
Over 90% of successful cyber attacks start with a phishing email. Phishing emails and text messages may look like they are from a person or company you know and trust. Sometimes phishing messages tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. Taking a few seconds to think about the message may save you from a phishing attack.
Use Strong Passwords
Of course, using strong passwords will provide the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your computer or accounts. The stronger the password, the more protected you are from hackers and malicious software. There are password managers that can generate and store unique passwords for you.
A Special Offer for Heritage Clients
You have access to a free cyber security training class! Watch for an email soon with complimentary access to a short but effective cyber security overview that will help you stay safe online. It’s just one of the ways we help our clients protect their wealth and keep their financial plan and investments on track to meet their goals.
