How to protect your privacy and info from cyber thieves
The possibility of a cyberattack by a foreign country has gone from being the stuff of science fiction to a common threat that is often reported in the news. While it may seem like there is nothing an individual can do to stop a cyberattack, there are some best practices consumers and businesses can do to help guard against losing important personal information to cyber thieves.
Quite a bit of personal information is already shared on the internet by cellphones, tablets, laptops or any other device that connects through Wi-Fi or an internet provider. These access points make it easier to shop, bank, make travel arrangements and keep in touch with friends or family. When online, safeguard your information to help avoid scams, fraud and identity theft.
Periodically, it is a good idea to review who has your information. The Better Business Bureau and the National Cyber Security Alliance offer the following tips to help secure the privacy of critical information:
Share with care.
Posts on social media last a long time. Consider who will see the post, how readers might perceive it and what information it might reveal about the individual posting it.
Manage privacy settings.
Check the privacy and security settings on web services and apps and set them to your comfort level for information sharing. Each device, application or browser used will have different features to limit how and with whom you share information.
Personal info is like money.
Personal information — such as purchase history, IP address or location — has tremendous value to businesses, just like money. Make informed decisions about whether to share data with certain businesses by considering the amount of personal information they are asking for and weighing it against the benefits you may receive in return.
Make your passwords long and strong.
Use long passwords with a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols — eight characters for most accounts and 12 characters for email and financial accounts. Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts, especially email and financial. Keep a paper list of your passwords in a safe place, not on or near your computer. Consider using a password vault application. See the Better Business Bureau’s tips for creating a strong password at BBB.org.
Keep tabs on apps.
Many apps ask for access to personal information, such as geographic location, contacts list and photo albums before using their services. Be thoughtful about who gets that information and be wary of apps that require access to information that is not required or relevant to the services they offer. Delete unused apps on your internet-connect devices and keep others secure by performing updates.
Lock down your login.
For your online accounts, use the strongest authentication tools available. Your usernames and passwords are not enough; consider twofactor authentication for key accounts like email, banking and social media, especially for access on mobile devices.
Don’t click on unfamiliar links.
Whether at home or work, don’t click on links from unfamiliar sources or unexpected correspondence. One false click can infect a whole computer — or a whole business.
Pay attention to internet-connected devices.
Smart thermostats, voice control systems, cars and even refrigerators are just the beginning of the growing list of devices that watch our homes and track our locations. Read the privacy policy and understand what data is being collected and how it will be used. Read the Better Business Bureau’s tips on smart devices and cyber security risks.
Charitable organizations should be aware of data privacy. Donors and others communicate online with charities via their websites, emails and other online means and need to be informed about what policies are in place to address privacy concerns.
For more information, see the Better Business Bureau’s Cybersecurity Resources page at bbb.org/all/cybersecurity-resources.
NEXT SHRED DAY IS APRIL 15
A great proactive approach to securing your identity is to safely destroy and dispose of unneeded documents and hard drives that contain your personally identifiable information. The Better Business Bureau is here to help with our spring “Shred Day.” The bureau will hold this free, bi-annual event in partnership with the Chattanooga Times Free Press, River City Shredding, Resource 1 Tier 3 Data Security and the Hamilton County Coalition from 9 a.m. to noon April 15. (Shredding will end earlier if trucks fill up).
The event will be in Coca-Cola Bottling Co.’s parking lot at 2111 W. Shepherd Road in Chattanooga, which is just off exit 1A (Airport exit) from Highway 153.
This is also a great opportunity for residents to have electronics recycled and outdated or unneeded prescription drugs dropped off for safe disposal.
Please limit documents to three large trash bags of documents per person. For more information, visit bbb.org/Chattanooga or call the bureau at 423-266-6144.