Reduce the Risk of Data Breaches:
Using our service is a great first step in reducing your risk of cybercrime. By quickly responding to alerts about your monitored assets, you can take appropriate and proactive action to minimize the risk of your data being used or spread on the web.
Suspicious Emails:
If you receive a suspicious email, it may be a phishing attack used by cybercriminals to collect as much of your personal information as possible. Our recommendation is to immediately delete the email and avoid responding to or clicking on any links. Never share sensitive personal information online unless you are absolutely certain of the recipient’s identity. Make sure to carefully monitor all your accounts for signs of fraud or other unauthorized activity. If you detect any suspicious activity, contact the affected financial institution or company immediately for assistance.
Suspicious Phone Calls:
Phone calls can also be phishing attempts used by cybercriminals to gather important personal information about you. We recommend that you never disclose personal information over the phone unless you are sure of the caller's identity. If you have a smartphone, we suggest enabling call-blocking features to prevent future calls from specific numbers. If you miss a call from an unknown number, do not call back out of curiosity. If it’s important, the caller will try again.
Using Different Passwords:
It is highly recommended not to use the same password for all your services, as cybercriminals use automated tools to crack passwords—weak passwords are cracked faster. If you use the same password across multiple accounts, you're essentially giving them the key to everything. Use different passwords and consider using a password manager to help you remember them all.
Stay Safe Online – Tips for Protecting Your Personal Information
Example 1 – Several of your accounts are compromised:
Imagine using the same password for an e-commerce site, a cloud service, and a music streaming service. If a hacker gains access to one of your accounts, they automatically gain access to the other two as well.
Example 2 – A worse scenario where all your accounts are compromised:
Let’s say you’ve followed the advice to use different passwords for all your accounts, but you've used a weak password for your email account. A cybercriminal manages to crack that password and uses it to reset passwords for your other accounts—gaining access to everything.
What about Social Media? Anything I Should Keep in Mind?
When using social media, always be cautious about what information you choose to share and with whom. Never send or share your personal information. Review the security settings for each account and check what you are sharing with friends versus publicly.
Our social media accounts are often hacked and used to request money or information. If someone contacts you requesting either, always call your friend to confirm and let them know someone is misusing their account or email address.
Remember: Anything You Share Online Will Always Be Online.
Two examples of how this applies:
The online service you’re using may store what you share.
Other users of the same service can copy and save what you post and use it however they wish—for example, to create fake accounts using your name and photo.
Do You Have Any General Security Advice?
Just like you lock your front door and have different keys for different doors, we strongly recommend you take the same approach online.
Here are a few tips:
Use different passwords for your various digital services.
Change your passwords regularly.
Never share personal information over digital channels.
Don’t send bank or credit card details via email.
Avoid shopping on websites that don’t offer secure payment options.
Don’t use digital services or apps you’re unfamiliar with.
Don’t click on links in emails—type the address directly into your browser.
Keep an Eye on Your Bank Transactions:
Monitor your bank account for unfamiliar transactions.
Watch out for suspicious letters, bills, invoices, or other credit-related information to detect fraud.