We use our phones to make purchases, check our bank accounts, take photos, and control devices in our homes. There is no doubt that these innovations have made our lives easier. As our reliance on technology increases, however, so does our risk of falling victim to crime. Here are three things you can do right now to lower your risk of being targeted:
1. Check Your Settings
One of the most important settings to review on your phone is location sharing. When enabled, this feature will automatically share your location with your apps. This can be beneficial in terms of providing you with helpful local content but can also become a risk if not carefully managed. If you are a social media user, pay close attention to this because this setting can add your location to posts – and do you really want your entire network to know where you are (and where you aren’t) when you share a cute picture from your favorite coffee shop? Probably not. While you’re at it, make sure your setting do not allow your phone to automatically connect to wireless networks, which may not be secure.
2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication (sometimes referred to as “two-factor authentication”) is an additional layer of security you can add you your devices to ensure that you are the only person with access to them. Some of your apps may already require this, especially if you use mobile banking. This most often includes a password or pin number, with your fingerprint, facial recognition, or verification via text or email as the second method of authentication. Check the settings on all apps that contain sensitive information and enable multi-factor authentication if it is available.
3. Get Additional Protection
The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to invest in identity theft protection services. ReliaShield continuously monitors your accounts and alerts you to suspicious activity to prevent you from becoming a victim of identity theft. If you do experience a theft, don’t worry – every plan includes 24/7 support from our team of restoration specialists, who will do all the work to restore your identity so that you don’t have to. Every plan is also backed by $1 million in stolen funds and expense reimbursement to give you peace of mind that your earnings are protected.
For more tips to keep your family safe from cybercrime, join the ReliaShield family. Your membership includes a complimentary subscription to Cybersecurity News, which provides tips and news from our team of experts. In the meantime, like us on Facebook for weekly updates and advice on how to keep your identity safe.
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