By Samantha Morris, Vice President, Digital Marketing, EXIT Realty Corp. International
With hacking and cyber scams on the rise, education and awareness are critically important in the fight against cybercriminal activity and to protect your data and identity. Below are some simple and straightforward reminders of how you can avoid getting caught up in the increasingly intelligent scams that we see today.
- Beware of solicitations to purchase gift cards, participate in contests, or to send money
- Be mindful that your basic personal information is easily accessible online and that solicitations can appear very personal
- Be cautious of all emails, phone calls, text messages and flyers as well as telephone and text numbers that you do not recognize
- Avoid clicking links in email, in texts or online, especially unexpected requests asking you to provide information or make a payment
- Always set up two-factor or multi-factor authentication where available (Multi-factor authentication is an electronic authentication method in which a computer user is granted access to a website or application only after successfully presenting two or more pieces of evidence)
- Use strong passwords when possible and update your passwords regularly. A strong password includes upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters
- Never share your credit card or login and password credentials
- Avoid using public Wi-Fi when possible
For more information about protecting your identity and data, visit https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/privacy-identity-online-security
