October is cybersecurity awareness month
There is no better time than now to take action and educate yourself on cyber safety and online security. Throughout October, each of us can take a few simple steps to proactively enhance our cybersecurity. We have taken the liberty of putting together some handy resources to help you quickly become more cyber safe and secure.
Remember to #BeCyberSmart!
Below is an excerpt of the critical strategies shared during Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CSAM).
- Be Cyber Smart
- Fight the Phish
- Cybersecurity First
Be cyber smart
When opening an online account, it is important to create a complex password that is not easily guessed or cracked. A strong password should be a minimum of 12 characters and contain at least one uppercase letter, lowercase letter, number and special character (!~#$%^&*()_+`:;"<>?/).
A strong password should NOT include the following:
- Complete words in a standard dictionary (English or foreign) or publicly known slang, dialect or jargon (Password123!, Hello987?, Welcome12$)
- Personal or work-related information (family name, pet name, company name or geographic location, etc.)
- Letter or number patterns (abcd, 4321, aaaa, 3434, etc.)
Try to create a password that you can easily remember. One technique is to create a password that is an acronym of a phrase. For example, the phrase might be “You Should Have A Strong Password For Your Account” and the password could be “y$H4SPfYa”.
Additional password tips: How to create a strong password
DHS resource: choosing and protecting passwords | CISA
Fight the phish
Social engineering is the use of deception to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential or personal information that may be used for fraudulent purposes. Phishing is a type of social engineering where someone pretends to be a reputable source to get you to click a malicious link or open a malicious email attachment. This can lead to malware, or malicious software, being installed on your device or computer.
Malware is used to monitor your online activity, impersonate your online persona, steal sensitive information, send spam or commit fraud. Symptoms of malware can include unusual activity on your computer such as strange or repeated pop-ups or sluggish performance. Identifying and removing malware helps ensure that your identity and privacy are protected.
If you suspect that you have fallen victim to social engineering or phishing, please visit the “Suspect Malware?” webpage.
DHS Resource: Ransomware
Cybersecurity first
Cybersecurity should always be top of mind. Cybercriminals will often seek valuable personal information such as social security numbers, usernames and passwords and account details with little regard for the target. This means it is important for you to be alert for potential attacks and practice secure habits throughout the year. Remaining aware of suspicious activity and following relevant data breach notifications are effective ways to ensure you are security-conscious and security-aware when it comes to sensitive information.
DHS resource: Preventing and responding to identity theft | CISA
Account safety and security
We take great pride in safeguarding the security of our clients’ sensitive information. As our client, we believe you also have a stake in securing your information and online experience.
Please visit the link below to view additional security tips that can help protect your personal information while conducting online activities.
If you have any questions regarding cybersecurity, please feel free to contact your Private Banker at (617) 912-4000.
Additional online banking security tips: Online personal banking - key features - SVB Private
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