October is National Cyber Security Awareness month
There's a new hacking horror story every week, and it's not just businesses being affected. A clever hacker can get into your computer, access your personal information, and steal from you before you even become aware of it. Fortunately, there are easy ways to protect yourself and your computer to keep hackers at bay. Consider taking these steps to make yourself more cyber secure:
- Don't click on links in emails even if the email appears to be from a legitimate source, like your bank. Instead, go to the site's website and log on there.
- Do not give personal information by email or over the phone. If you receive an official-sounding call, ask for a call-back number and a name. Research the number online to see if it is associated with any scams, and call the main number of the company or entity the caller claimed to be affiliated with to confirm the call's legitimacy.
- Create secure passwords and change them often. Make sure the passwords aren't easy to guess and don't share them with anyone.
- Use anti-virus software and keep it up to date.
- Pay attention to URLs. Make sure you are going to the site you mean to visit, and not a site with similar spelling or a different domain name, like "net" when it should be "com."
In general, fostering a healthy skepticism towards unsolicited communications and keeping your personal information to yourself is your best bet.
The information mentioned in this article is for informational purposes only, is intended to provide general guidance and does not constitute legal or professional advice. You should seek the advice of a professional advisor and/or legal counsel to address your specific needs regarding the issues related to your situation. Popular Bank does not make any representations or warranties as to the content contained herein and disclaims any and all liability resulting from any use of or reliance on such content.