How inefficient could we be to advise on using a retirement planning app without giving additional advise on how to protect your retirement accounts from hackers?
The Internet entered gradually into our lives, and now we find ourselves in the position where we make most of our transactions online. As fast as this method might be, it’s not always so secure. Scammers can try and hack your accounts in many ways, from hacking your passwords to tricking you into giving away your personal info.
If you remain vigilant and with your eyes wide open, you can avoid these cyberattacks. We made you a list of 10 things that you need to do to secure your online retirement accounts, and you might find it really helpful:
- Change your password regularly – Make a habit out of changing your passwords once a month. You just need to be one step ahead of the hackers, and you won’t have to worry too much about your account security.
- Username with a different name – It’s better if you don’t enter your personal information when creating an online account. Even your real name might be helping hackers to proceed on their cyberattack, so don’t make their lives any easier.
- Never give your password over a text message – Not a single certified bank in the world will ever ask you your personal information over a text message. If you ever receive a message from “the bank” where you’re being asked to write your password, don’t answer it. It’s a scam.
- Multifactor authentication on all of your accounts – Cybercriminals became more and more adept at nowadays technologically, so having just a strong password isn’t enough anymore. Multifactor authentication is a smart and inventive way of securing your accounts. Anytime you log in, you’ll receive a message on your phone with your activity on the website. This way, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s happening on your account.
- A fishy phone call or voicemail asking for information – If you receive a phone call that claims to be from a bank employee and asks you to give away sensitive account information, it’s probably a scam. Just to be sure you don’t fall into this type of trap, speak to your bank directly.
- Choose a password manager, instead of a pen and paper – Instead of writing down your personal accounts info, try using a password manager that requires extra verification steps.
- Don’t discuss your account information in public – If you need to provide any information over the phone- don’t do it in a public place, try finding a more private area, or go to your car.
- Don’t log in to your accounts on public wi-fi – On an open wi-fi network, is much easier for hackers to track down your accounts info. It’s like handing them the keys. Avoid using public wi-fi when you’re entering one of your accounts.
- Give fake answers to your security questions – We recommend you not to answer to authentication questions with real answers. The moment you give away your mother’s name or the name of the street you were born, it would be much easier for hackers to solve the puzzle of your private info.
- Be proactive in protecting your accounts– Although it’s a small risk of being hacked, don’t fall into believing it could never happen to you. Check your statements constantly, change your password regularly, and keep contact only with legitimate account representatives when it comes to the security of your account.
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