{"id":4798,"date":"2022-03-29T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-29T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baycoast.bank\/?p=4798"},"modified":"2023-12-11T13:11:14","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T18:11:14","slug":"protect-financial-info","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baycoast.bank\/en\/security\/protect-financial-info\/","title":{"rendered":"Protect Your Financial Information from Cybercrime"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\t\t\t\tMarch 29, 2022 \n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t \n\t

Protect Your Financial Information from Cybercrime<\/h1>\n\t \n\t
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Cybercrimes \u2014 including hacking, phishing, and malware \u2014 aim to access your sensitive personal financial information in order to steal money from you or in your name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cybercrime is always a threat in this information age, but there are also some simple ways to keep your information and your money safe. With the tips below, you can protect yourself from online criminals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid Links<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Just because an email seems to be from a source you know, doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s the real thing. When you receive an email that looks like it\u2019s from your bank, credit card company, or favorite online retailer, don\u2019t click on links in the email. Instead, start a new session on that company\u2019s website. Scammers try to trick you with phony email links, so you\u2019ll type your login information into their fake page, giving them access to your real accounts. If you have doubts about the true source of an email, you can always call the company directly to make sure it\u2019s real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protect Your Computer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Install reliable antivirus and anti-malware software on your home computer and be sure to update that software as new threats arise. Run scans regularly to detect any spyware or malware that may be lurking in the background to capture your personal financial information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secure Your Mobile Devices<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Your smartphone or tablet come with strong protections, but their portability also makes them vulnerable. Never enter your personal information when you\u2019re on a public Wi-Fi network, since hackers may be watching. Don\u2019t download mobile apps unless you trust the source. Be sure to password-protect your devices just in case they get lost or stolen. You don\u2019t want a stranger getting access to your financial accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Browse Carefully<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Only enter your personal information on a website if you know it\u2019s secure. How do you know if it\u2019s a secure site? The web address may start with \u201chttps\u201d instead of the usual \u201chttp,\u201d or you may see a little lock symbol at the beginning of the address bar. If you don\u2019t see those security signs, your information may be vulnerable to theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beware of Callers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

No reputable financial organization will ever ask you for your password or other personal information over the telephone. If someone who claims to work for your bank or credit card company asks for that information, hang up on them. You can then look up the company\u2019s real number and call them to verify. They\u2019ll want to know if someone has been impersonating them on the phone! The same goes for email \u2014 don\u2019t trust a message asking you to send personal information electronically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strengthen Your Passwords<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s tempting to use one memorable password for all your online accounts, but that leaves all your accounts vulnerable if one of the companies experiences a breach. Instead, choose strong passwords for each account and change them often. You may need to use a program or browser extension to create and remember many different passwords for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch Your Accounts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Most financial companies have fraud-detection procedures in place, but that shouldn\u2019t stop you from monitoring your accounts personally. Keep an eye out for unusual transactions, or ones you don\u2019t remember making. Get in touch with the company as soon as you see anything unusual. The faster you catch the problem, the easier it is to fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep Your Software Up to Date<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that older versions of Windows (XP, Vista, 7, or 8) and Internet Explorer are no longer supported by Microsoft?  If you\u2019re using these products, you could be putting your information at risk.  Unsupported software is vulnerable to new cyber-attacks that can lead to loss of data on your computer, identity theft, stolen online banking credentials (username\/password etc.) or a number of other negative outcomes.  <\/strong>Some of these threats can even use your computer to launch more attacks on people you know or even the general public.  Due to these serious risks, you should seriously consider upgrading to a computer running a supported version of Windows (10 or 11) with the most up to date version of Microsoft Edge as soon as possible.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keeping software up-to-date to protect yourself extends outside of Microsoft products as well.  Always ensure that you keep all software running on your computer updated as these applications can also be exploited if left unpatched.  This includes applications such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, Oracle Java, and third party Internet browsers (ex. Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.)  It is also highly recommended that you install and keep up-to-date anti-virus or anti-malware software that has an auto-protect feature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lock Up Your Devices<\/h4>\n\n\n\n