HOLIDAY CYBER SECURITY BEST PRACTICES

Below are some helpful tips to minimize your chances of having your Debit or Credit Cards compromised this Holiday Season and for everyday use…

Here's hoping everyone has an amazing and safe 2024 Holiday Season!

If you have questions or comments, please feel free to reach out.

1.        KEEP THINGS UP TO DATE:

a.      Keep your electronic devices up to date.

b.      Check for Operating System patches and apply them

c.       Check for Software updates and apply them as soon as practical

2.     PASSWORDS:

a.      Change the password on your Internet Router at your home and place of business.

b.      If you are using your Web Browsers native password storage capability, please consider moving to a pure play Password Manager like the “DashLane” or “LastPass” password Manager discussed below

c.       Once you have migrated your passwords from your built in Web Browser password plug in to DashLane, delete them from your Web Browser password manager and disable it.

3.     PASSWORD MANAGER:

a.      Implement a Password Manager for all of your electronic devices.

b.      I recommend the “DashLane” “DashLane” or “LastPass” Password Manager, it is very easy to use for Business and Home Use.  It will “auto fill” your passwords if you wish and allow log onto “DashLane” or “LastPass”  via a password or PIN for convenience.

c.       It will “synchronize” it’s password database across all of your electronic devices and has a convenient Web Browser Plug In for ease of use

4.      FINANCIAL MATTERS:

a.      If you are currently storing your credit or debit card data in your Web Browsers built in data storage, consider disabling this capability and removing all credit card data from your Web Browser

b.      Consider using “virtual credit cards” instead of using your actual credit cards for online purchases:

                                                               i.      This Company https://privacy.com/ has an EXCELLENT virtual credit card product that will ensure that your Credit / Debit Cards are NEVER compromised by hackers again.

                                                             ii.      We highly encourage your using this on all your electronic devices

c.       Check your Bank Statements weekly during the Holiday Season

                                                               i.      If you find a questionable transaction, call your Bank immediately and let them know

d.      Never allow any website to store your card data.

                                                               i.      If you have allowed this in the past, take the time to remove it or call the company and have them remove it.

1.        Or, use virtual cards from Privacy.com

5.       Use a Virtual Private Network or VPN:

a.      We recommend the PROTON VPN which is free.

b.      A VPN has many amazing capabilities that provide 7x24x365 Cyber Security enhancements to your electronic devices

                                                               i.      Run the PROTON VPN on your desktop computer; Laptop; Tablet and Cell Phone

c.       There are also numerous other VPN software vendors that are quite good and easy to use:

                                                               i.      NordVPN

                                                             ii.      SurfShark VPN

                                                            iii.      Express VPN

                                                            iv.      PIA (for LINUX users)

                                                             v.      Cyber Ghost

                                                            vi.      PureVPN

6.       SOCIAL MEDIA:

a.      Be careful about over sharing on social media.

                                                               i.      Criminals routinely search Facebook and other Social Media sites for key words related to Vacations during the holidays.

                                                             ii.      You might be advertising to criminals that your house will be vacant making is an easy targeted for criminal burglary.