by Scott L Nelson, Stake Finance Specialist

Going online without the proper safeguards for your personal and financial information is like going to the bank and giving your wallet to a stranger. IT’S NOT A GOOD IDEA. With more of our financial transactions handled online each day, it’s important to stay vigilant about protecting your data from cybercriminals that seek to steal your sensitive information. With that in mind, here are ten actionable tips to keep your online activities safe and secure.

1. CONSIDER TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION By now, you probably know to have unique passwords for different sites, and to stay away from “easy guess” passwords like your birthday, spouse’s name, etc. Naturally, let’s take it to the next level: two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA is usually generated by a text message or a smartphone app such as Google Authenticator, Authy, or LastPass Authenticator. Once you’ve downloaded an authenticator app, you can then link your accounts. The app will continuously display a rotating set of codes that you can use whenever needed. It’s a reliable way to verify that it’s you logging in, and not some hacker in Ukraine.

2. CHECK YOUR LINKS & URLS Online banking or browsing for that next pair of shoes? Be sure to check the URL of the site you’re browsing. If it starts with “http://” and not “https://” that means it’s not a secure site, and you could be opening yourself up to the possibility of fraudulent activity. Likewise, be sure to hover over links—especially in emails—to make sure they aren’t “cloned” or “dummy” websites. They may look legitimate, but a character or two doesn’t match the real address. Here are two examples of a real website and a fraudulent version. Real website: https://www.google.com Fake website: http://www.go0g1e.com Real website: https://www.bankofamerica.com Fake website: http://www1.bankamerica.com

3. RUN A CLEAN MACHINE Always keep your devices up to date on the latest software to reduce the threat of cybercriminals exploiting a weakness. Most of us are guilty of refusing to update software for days or even weeks. But with each click of the “Remind Me Later” button, hackers gain more time to get into your device. These updates include, but aren’t limited to: Operating systems Security and anti-virus software Web browsers

4. USE SECURE NETWORKS Ever been tempted with the allure of free Wi-Fi? It sure seems like a nice perk, but these often-unsecured networks found at coffee shops, fast food restaurants, and airport terminals can be a cybercriminal’s paradise. An experienced hacker can gain sensitive information such as your banking credentials over these unsecured networks. Unless you can opt-in to a secure network, you’re better off using your mobile data.

5. CHECK ACCOUNTS REGULARLY The easy-to-use mobile financial tools we’ve grown accustomed to are great on the go, but they make us lazy in checking our day-today account activity. At a minimum, you should be checking your account activity every week. Setting up auto-notifications in your financial apps can help monitor your banking and credit card activity in real-time; giving you the ability to spot a fraudulent charge right away. Always keep your devices up to date on the latest software.

6. USE REPUTABLE APPS Many financial apps help with saving, budgeting, and more. But if you’re considering adding one of these to your mobile device, be sure to check the app’s security protocols before you hit “Install.” Any reputable banking or financial app should have their security information readily available to read. Be sure to read the reviews, too. If users are reporting security problems, you shouldn’t download it.

7. REDUCE YOUR SPAM We can get bombarded with emails. And some will be illegitimate, regardless of how professional it looks at first glance. These are known as “phishing” attempts. To reduce your chances of receiving these and other fraudulent emails, don’t respond to them at all and delete them immediately. By replying to a message, it shows people that your email is indeed active. That inevitably leads to more spam and phishing attempts.

8. IN DOUBT? DON’T CLICK. Piggybacking off the previous tip, if you get any emails or messages on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media site that seem suspicious or from someone you don’t know—permanently delete the message. A popular scam is for someone to message you and claim that a family member had an emergency and is in need. Don’t fall prey to these scams that target your emotions. Would someone really reach out to you via Facebook Messenger for an emergency? Probably not. As always, never provide personal or financial information to anyone who requests it online unless it’s a 100% verified source. Also, many scammers are impersonating your friends on Facebook and other social media.  If anything in their Private Messages seems off in any way, report it.  If the message includes a link of any type, contact your friend or family member the way you usually do to confirm the message is from them.

9. PASSWORD-PROTECT YOUR MOBILE DEVICE Perhaps it’s slightly annoying to unlock your mobile device with a password, fingerprint, or code every time you open it. That’s nothing compared to losing it and have your information wind up in the wrong hands. Play it safe by password protecting your mobile device and all the sensitive information that it holds.

10. LINK ACCOUNTS TO CREDIT CARDS Instead of linking one of your online accounts with your bank account or debit card, try entering your credit card information instead. With more layers of protection, a credit card is generally safer to use online. Not to mention, if a fraudulent charge does occur, your bank account isn’t impacted. Credit cards also tend to have easier and more efficient dispute systems, so you can report bogus charges easier and get the charge quickly removed. Bottom line: Follow these tips to keep your finances safe from the threat of cybercriminals. Remember, it’s better to continually keep your guard up than to let it down for only a moment.

Samuel the Lamanite talked about the Nephites riches becoming slippery. (Helaman 13)  We will have the same problem if we’re not careful.

If you have questions or suggestions for future articles, please contact me directly.