When we think about keeping our family safe online, the conversation usually focuses on the content on the screens of their favorite devices. Is what they are watching appropriate? What have they been searching online? Who are they communicating with, and are they who they say they are? Unfortunately, one of the biggest threats to your family’s safety is one that many families tend to overlook: hackers. Imagine a scenario where someone has gained control of your bank account and transferred your money to various banks across the globe. Consider the damage if a hacker used your child’s social security number to open credit cards and make fraudulent purchases. The discovery of this deception might take years. Unlawful, unknown purchases would ruin their credit before they were even old enough to understand what credit is. Unfortunately, social security numbers and similar information are prime targets for that exact reason.
At a recent event I attended, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) categorized hackers into two groups. The first group comprised roughly seventy percent of hackers globally. They described this group as savvy but unable to cause much trouble when minimal security precautions were in place. As a result, I’ve compiled a list of measures you can take to protect your family from the majority of cybercriminals.
Passwords
Creating smart, complex passwords is the first step in securing your online presence. Most of us have two or three passwords we use for everything. The problem comes when a website gets breached and your information is shared online. Hackers with sophisticated software will use leaked information to attempt to login to thousands of popular sites at once. For example, the email address and password you used to sign up for an online music subscription could give hackers access to your email. When creating a new password, there are a few rules to ensure the bad guys will not easily decode it.
- The longer, the better — Create a password longer than eight characters. Many experts suggest using a phrase or short sentence instead of a traditional password. Short sentences will make your password easier to remember and highly secure.
- Include special characters— Symbols such as the exclamation point, the dollar sign, or even a space will significantly increase the password’s strength.
- Change it up —Don’t use the same password for multiple sites. Everyone has a “go-to” password, but that is not safe in this day and age. One simple adjustment is to add a few characters to the end of your password for each website. For example, add the letters “Tw” to the beginning or end of your password for Twitter. This way, you can use a similar password for each site but still have some security in the event of a data breach.
Complex passwords are good, but a password manager is a much better solution.
Password Manager
A password manager is a service designed to help you create strong passwords and keep those passwords safe. The service can generate and store long, complex passwords to replace existing passwords you may be using. The application encrypts your data in your “vault” and automatically enters the pertinent information for each site you visit. Automatically filling in the data prevents hackers or malicious software from stealing your information as you type in. Password managers can keep track of more than just passwords too. They can hold credit card information, addresses, PINs, and other sensitive information that websites ask for when making a purchase. Many security experts view this as one of the best ways to secure your online presence.
These security precautions may sound highly complicated, but password managers are pretty simple to use in reality. The most challenging part is choosing which password manager to trust. I recommend LastPass. It is straightforward to work with, includes a smartphone app, and provides several helpful features. A yearly subscription costs $36 and includes premium features that are well worth the investment. For example, if you believe your account has been compromised, LastPass can automatically change your password to many major websites with the click of a button. Dashlane and Keeper are also good options to consider if LastPass isn’t for you.
HaveIBeenPwned.com
Now you know how to create strong passwords and secure them. But, how do you know if your information is part of a security breach and is now floating around online? Every state has enacted legislation requiring organizations to notify individuals when a security breach involving their data occurs. Unfortunately, the laws are a bit different, and big corporations have ways to delay those notifications for months after a violation is discovered. Troy Hunt, a regional director at Microsoft, created a website to help people determine if their data is at risk. HaveIBeenPwned.com allows users to search through all known data breaches for their email addresses. If the email address is found, the site describes how the breach occurred and what personally identified information was leaked. I highly recommend anyone who reads this column to visit the website to see if their email address has been a part of a breach. Be sure to click the “Notify Me” link at the top of the site to be notified of any additional data leaks that include your information.
Credit Check
Doing a semi-annual credit check on your children’s social security numbers is another fantastic way to stay vigilant. A quick check can ensure no suspicious activity is taking place. The process is simple. Sign up on places such as credit.com to check credit scores for free. Checking your credit score is a soft credit inquiry. Soft credit inquiries, or soft pulls, are not a result of attempting to secure a loan or credit card. Soft inquiries do not affect your credit rating. Take a moment to place a recurring appointment in your calendar to check your children’s credit scores.
Apply Your Updates
Make sure that you are installing the updates on the devices in your life. Most digital devices have an option to apply an update when available automatically. Computers and smartphones are the obvious items that come to mind. Don’t forget about equipment such as your WiFi router, cable modem, or other home security devices like a Ring Doorbell or Smartlock. Use the management or settings options to check for updates. Keeping your devices patched and up to date can significantly decrease the chances for unwanted access.
Antivirus
Microsoft Windows comes with an above average built-in virus scanner, and most Apple products are known to be less susceptible to unwanted programs. However, even with those things in place, I still recommend a paid subscription to an antivirus software installed on many computers in your home. Malwarebytes is my personal preference. The site has an annual plan for $60 that covers three devices. The software is reliable and works on a variety of computer platforms. The installation will walk you through setting up an automatic scan each week and setting up other ways to keep your system(s) protected. AVG, as well as Symantec, are other virus protection software packages you could consider.
Taking the steps will help decrease the chances of your digital lives being disrupted by unsavory individuals. In addition, the cost and time associated with setting these up will leave you with peace of mind that is well worth the effort.
