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Has your email account ever been hacked? If you answered “yes,” you have been the victim of a cyberattack.
In today’s world, hacks are becoming increasingly common. Recent threats remind us to be vigilant and take extra precautions to protect our privacy.
These steps can help you protect yourself from cyberattacks and identity theft.
- Update your passwords. Better security
starts with better passwords. In the event
of a rise in hack attempts, it is safe to
update all passwords. You can use a
password manager to generate and store
your passwords. A different password
should be created for each account.
Examples of the most popular passwords
found on the dark web that should NOT
be used include Abc123, 111111, Iloveyou
and Password. - Do not use public Wi-Fi. Be mindful if you
need to use public Wi-Fi. It is always
better to connect to a VPN, especially
when handling financial transactions. - Update security settings on social media
accounts. Check security settings on
your social media accounts. It is safer if
your account is marked as private or if the
content is only accessible to friends. It is
always a good idea to reject friend
requests from strangers. - Be skeptical about links and attachments.
Be wary of emails and text messages with
URLs. Don’t use the link or open the attachment
if you are unsure about the source.
This rule should also be followed when
using social media messaging platforms. - Review money-sharing apps. It is wise to
link your credit cards, not debit cards, to
your money-sharing apps. Also, make sure
to set up two-factor authentication. Turning
on alerts to monitor your account’s activity
proactively would be best.
Always remember that your security starts with what you do to stay proactive. An
identity theft protection plan like IDShield can
help you protect your privacy by monitoring
your login credentials across the dark web
and your financial accounts for unauthorized
transactions.
If you are enrolled in IDShield and think you
are a cyberattack victim, please call to speak
to an IDShield identity theft specialist
immediately.
If you are not enrolled in IDShield, please
consider doing so at your next opportunity.