Online Banking Security Tips
With technology advancing, understanding how to protect yourself from online banking fraud is more crucial than ever. This guide offers fraud prevention tips, password best practices, and advice on navigating digital security challenges.
Key Takeaways
1
Strong passwords act as the lock and key to your online banking.
2
Regular software updates are essential for online security.
3
Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses new threats that consumers must be aware of.
4
Quickly reporting scams can minimize potential losses.
Table of Contents
Enhancing Your Online & Computer Security
Crafting Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are the first line of defense in securing your online presence. Your passwords are like the front door to your digital presence—would you leave it unlocked for anyone on the web to access? Absolutely not!
Best Practices For Crafting Strong Passwords
Here are some straightforward tips to help you establish strong passwords and keep your online presence 'locked.'
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Use Length and Complexity: Mix numbers, symbols, and uppercase and lowercase letters while avoiding personal information, such as your name and birth date
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Aim for Length: Longer passwords are harder to crack, with a recommended minimum of 12 characters
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Create Memorable Passwords: Use acronyms or phrases that are easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess
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Example: My 2nd son was born at 1:15 St. Lukes in May = M2swb@115SLiM
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Enhancing Your Online & Computer Security
Your online presence is your virtual identity, showing who you are online. Just like you protect your personal information in real life, keeping your digital details safe is crucial.
Protecting Your Online Identity
Here are some practical measures to protect your virtual presence:
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Guard Your Privacy: Be cautious about sharing personal information on the internet; not everyone is who they say they are
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Stay Updated: Install security updates and patches as soon as they are available
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Backup Your Data: Regular backups can prevent the loss of information due to cyber incidents
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Personal Data: Erase all personal data before selling or disposing of devices
To ensure your data is protected, proactive measures can help you avoid potential future issues.
Understanding AI's Role in Online Security
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly integrated into our daily lives. However, this advancement brings not only convenience but also new challenges.
Using just a short audio sample obtained from the internet, scammers, leveraging AI technology, can now mimic the voices of individuals we trust. This technique allows them to create phone calls that sound remarkably like someone you know.
So, how can you distinguish if it's them or a scammer using a cloned voice?
Verification Is Key
It's essential to rely on something other than the voice. Should you receive an unexpected call from a loved one requesting money or sensitive information, take a moment to verify their identity.
Use a known, trusted phone number to call them back directly. If you can't reach your loved one, try to contact them through another family member or their friends.
Fraudulent callers often ask for immediate action, urging you to wire funds, send cryptocurrency, or purchase gift cards for them. These methods are difficult to trace and reverse transactions, making them perfect for scammers.
How to Report Scams?
Smishing scams involve fraudulent text messages, often claiming to be from your bank, asking you to confirm or decline transactions.
For instance, if you receive a text appearing to be from FSB about a Zelle® transfer, it's a scam. FSB does not notify customers via text about potentially fraudulent Zelle transactions.
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