By Rob Johnson
As a wealth manager, my main focus is to help clients pursue their dreams while keeping their wealth safe and sound. With cyber attacks on the rise, shielding your wealth now includes new areas we hadn’t considered before. It’s crucial to take steps to defend yourself and your financial assets, especially when it comes to the online world. In this post, I provide some useful tips and smart strategies for staying safe from cyber attacks. Taking these steps can help to lower your risk and keep your personal and financial details safe from interference.
Password Manager
Having a password manager helps to securely store and organize all your passwords, allowing you to create strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. This reduces the risk of having your accounts compromised due to weak or reused passwords. Additionally, a password manager helps streamline the login process and eliminate the need to remember multiple passwords. Sites like LastPass and 1Password are two options to consider.
VPN
Using a VPN enhances online privacy by encrypting your internet traffic and masking your IP address. This helps to protect sensitive personal and financial information, such as login credentials and online banking transactions, from being intercepted by cybercriminals. A VPN should be used all the time on your iPhone, iPads, laptops, and other devices. Some good options for a VPN service include ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
Encryption
Encrypting storage devices, such as laptops and external hard drives, helps protect the confidentiality and integrity of stored data. If the device is lost or stolen, encrypted data will be unreadable without the proper decryption key, reducing the risk of sensitive information falling into the wrong hands. Apple computers have FireVault installed on them which encrypts the information on the Mac. To enable FireVault follow these easy steps.
Firewalls
Using a firewall helps increase overall network security and reduce the risk of data breaches and cyber threats. Essentially, they help prevent unauthorized applications, programs, and services from accepting incoming connections.
Anti-Malware
Anti-malware programs help protect against a range of threats, including viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, and other forms of malware that can cause harm to your computer or steal sensitive information. Regular use of anti-malware programs helps prevent system slowdowns, crashes, and other issues caused by malware infections, providing a critical layer of security for any computer or device. Some options for anti-malware protection include Malwarebytes and Avast.
Update Software
Regularly updating software programs ensures that security vulnerabilities and bugs are fixed, protecting the software and any sensitive data it may handle. To increase your computer’s performance and lower the risk of attacks, keep your operating systems, software, and anti-malware programs updated.
Update Hardware
Using modern hardware can also help provide the best security advancements against cyber threats. Hardware includes routers, Wi-Fi, computers, phones, laptops, etc.
Cyber Hygiene
Cyber hygiene refers to basic practices and habits to maintain the security and privacy of personal and sensitive information when using technology. To protect yourself, be more cautious about clicking on links that come to your email, which can be “phishing” attempts to get you to click on a fake link so the hacker can obtain your username and password.
Public Wi-Fi and Cell Signals
Using public Wi-Fi networks can be risky because they often lack encryption and proper security measures, leaving sensitive information vulnerable to interception and theft by cybercriminals. Cell signals can also be spoofed by creating a fake cell tower, allowing an attacker to intercept voice and data communications, steal sensitive information, and even manipulate GPS data. To lower these risks, be sure to use a VPN if you need to use public Wi-Fi.
Choosing the Right Devices
Next time you’re in the market to buy a new laptop, cell phone, or tablet, take the time to learn about the security and protection features your new device offers. Generally, Apple products tend to be more secure than others. However, the biggest weak spot in terms of security is human error! Many hacks rely on people making careless mistakes and revealing usernames, passwords, or other access to personal information.
Safeguard Your Wealth
We understand that many of the topics mentioned above might not be familiar to everyone. However, shielding yourself from cyber attacks is a critical step to safeguard your personal information and financial accounts.
At Elevate Wealth Management, we know our clients and the people of Wyoming live their lives with purpose and pride, and we are here to help them pursue their dreams with confidence and clarity. If you need help shielding the assets you’ve worked so hard for to leave a lasting legacy, our team is here to assist you. Contact me to schedule a meeting by reaching out at rmjohnson@frontierasset.com or 307.461.5550.
About Rob
Rob Johnson is a financial advisor at Elevate Wealth Management, an independent, fee-only wealth management firm serving young professionals, pre-retirees, and retirees in Sheridan, Wyoming, and surrounding areas.
With a passion for helping others achieve their goals, Rob is committed to working closely with clients to empower them to make the best financial decisions for their lives. Rob understands that every person faces unique circumstances when it comes to their financial future, so he will tailor his approach and recommendations to ensure clients feel confident about the direction they’re headed. Rob has an enthusiasm for customer service, which is apparent during every client interaction he has. Honesty and integrity are at the center of the advice and recommendations he gives, and he will work hard to build and maintain trust in every relationship.
Rob has a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from Black Hills State University and is actively working towards his Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation. He is a Wyoming native who grew up at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains in beautiful Dayton, Wyoming. He believes strongly in giving back to the community that helped raise him by volunteering his time and serving as an active board member with various non-profit organizations in the area.
Rob and his wife Emma have two sons, Michael and Sammy, who are the lights of their lives. Rob has a passion for sports and is an avid golfer. During the warmer months of the year, there’s a good chance you’ll find him on the first tee. To learn more about Rob, connect with him on LinkedIn.
The views expressed represent the opinion of Frontier Asset Management. The views are subject to change and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results. This material is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Stated information is derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources that have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness. While Frontier Asset Management believes the information to be accurate and reliable, we do not claim or have responsibility for its completeness, accuracy, or reliability. The use of such sources does not constitute an endorsement. Frontier does not have an affiliation with any author, company or security noted within. Statements of future expectations, estimates, projections, and other forward-looking statements are based on available information and the Frontier Asset Management’s view as of the time of these statements. Accordingly, such statements are inherently speculative as they are based on assumptions that may involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Investing in securities involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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