CyberSmart: Clean and declutter to strengthen your cyber defenses
Editorial staff, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
With work-from-home still in place for many of us, our reliance on digital tools has skyrocketed. Cybercriminals have wasted little time taking advantage of this, launching large-scale cyberattacks, phishing scams and other malicious activity against individuals and businesses.
While a number of organizations – including JPMorganChase – work tirelessly to establish safeguards and protect us from these criminals, we have some homework to do as well. For the month, we are sharing tips and strategies to improve your digital defenses against cybercriminals and fraudsters.
Cybercriminals are increasingly sophisticated, and their full-time job is to steal from you. However, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.
Here’s where you can start:
Clean house
Because most hackers work by infecting devices with malware through rogue apps and downloaded files, the first step to securing your digital presence is a good cleanse. Get everyone in the family to do the same.
How to declutter and clean your devices:
- Get rid of apps you’re not using, which will help save space while keeping your phone more secure.
- Purge digital files from your “download folder” and “recycle bin,” which may hold sensitive information. Review and empty the trash on all devices.
- Unsubscribe from emails and newsletters via your email provider, which reduces the risk of clicking on malicious links. Most reputable email providers have the ability to unsubscribe on your behalf.
- Download and archive the emails you want to save, and delete the emails you don’t need – including sent items.
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Protect your devices
Make sure you and everyone in the family take advantage of reliable protections available out there:
- Install a mobile security software, such as Lookout, to help keep your mobile device more secure.
- Stay up to date. Providers regularly issue updates to keep you more secure. Update your anti-virus software and operating system on all your devices, including laptops, PCs and all Apple devices to keep your information secure.
- Encrypt files on your laptop or PC so that no one can easily access this information without your permission.
To further avoid being the target of fraud, be mindful of what information is posted online about you and your family.
Be more anonymous online
- Less is more when it comes to social media, as cybercriminals can use what is posted against you. They can target you with the information shared, such as your whereabouts, vacations, hobbies, family pictures and more. Once a cybercriminal has your information, they can potentially access your various accounts.
- Use different email accounts for different purposes: Use separate email accounts for important communication, and create new ones to log on to sites, receive receipts and newsletters.
- Own your online presence: Review the privacy and security settings on your mobile devices, apps and web browsers. Limit how you share information, and check that apps are only accessing the information they absolutely need.
- Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) if you have to use public/travel/hotel Wi-Fi to help keep your information out of the digital hands of cybercriminals.
Strengthen your defenses
- Download apps only from official sites, such as the Apple App Store and Google Play. Inform your children about the dangers that rogue apps pose to the entire family.
- Strengthen all passwords: Use numbers, letters and special characters; use a phrase, a song title or something not easily guessed by hackers. It is important to use different passwords on different sites. Consider using a reputable password manager to help you manage all your passwords easily and safely.
- Use two-factor authentication wherever offered, such as with email providers, social media or retail providers, to protect yourself from an account takeover.
- Sign up for alerts to make you aware of potential compromise or misuse of your information and accounts.
- Freeze your credit in the United States with the three major credit agencies to prevent anyone from opening new financial accounts in your name.
- Verify, verify, verify. Whether it appears to be an email from someone you know, a report or invoice you were expecting or a call from a known vendor, you should remain cautious. Call the sender back via a known or trusted phone number to validate authenticity.
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Editorial staff, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management
