Steps you can take to help protect your accounts
Enroll in multi-factor authentication
Give your account security a boost and guard against unauthorized access by enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA). Using an extra step at login not only helps prevent scammers from accessing your accounts and data—even if they somehow managed to get your login information—it can also give you a heads up if someone is trying to log in to your account without your permission.
Create a strong, unique password
Use strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts, especially your financial, email, phone, and social media accounts. Reusing a password for multiple websites is never a good idea. If hackers obtain your password for one online account or website, they will first check if it works for other websites. It's also best to change your passwords if you know or suspect they’ve been compromised. Learn more about how you can update your password at Fidelity.
Make sure your information is up to date
Confirm or update your current email address and mobile phone number with all your financial institutions and important account providers, so you can be contacted when needed. This not only supports MFA, but also makes it possible to receive real-time alerts, sent via email or text message, for important transactions such as updates to our profile information, or transferring money from your accounts.
Go paperless by signing up for eDelivery
Documents can be stolen from a mailbox or recycling bin, but security on digital communications is continually improving. For example, a customer may be required to log in to access eDelivered documents, and enabling MFA can offer further protection against unauthorized access to the customer's documents. MFA options can include push authentication through a phone or app, which can be configured to require facial or fingerprint verification before allowing access to digital communications, providing layers of protection that are not available when you get something in the mail or receive a phone call.
More ways to practice good digital hygiene
We make it a priority at Fidelity to protect your personal data and account information, but there are more steps you can take to practice good digital hygiene, at Fidelity and beyond.
Protect your identity
Cybercriminals love to target accounts by using compromised login credentials or contacting you directly and pretending to be from a legitimate company.
- Don’t click on untrusted links or attachments in email or text—known as phishes or smishes (SMS/text message phish). When in doubt, go directly to the trusted company’s website by typing in their website address.
- Consider using a password vault/manager. If you do use one, be sure to protect it with a strong, unique password and MFA.
- Beware of scams. Cybercriminals use clever scams to defraud millions of people each year. Learn more about how you can defend yourself and your loved ones here.
Monitor your accounts and credit
After compromising your login information, cybercriminals will attempt to move money out of your account.
- Monitor your accounts and credit score for suspicious activity. Check for any suspect activity including profile/contact information changes and transaction attempts, and review security alerts you receive from your financial institutions and other account providers.
- Review your credit and freeze it to help prevent credit fraud. Temporarily unfreeze it when you need to apply for credit. Contact Equifax (800-525-6285), Experian (888-397-3742), and TransUnion (800-680-7289) for more information on obtaining your credit report and implementing a credit freeze.
- Consider purchasing identity monitoring and protection, such as Eversafe, which sends suspicious activity alerts, including warnings for unusual withdrawals, missing deposits, odd charges, changes in spending patterns, and much more.
Secure your devices
Cybercriminals will also attempt to gain control over your devices with malware, by snooping your network traffic, or by taking over your cell phone account.
- Use a personal firewall and anti-virus software on your personal devices, and routinely apply security patches, anti-virus signature updates and operating system upgrades.
- Use trusted devices for conducting sensitive transactions. Avoid systems used for social media, video streaming, or gaming, which are prone to malware.
- Avoid conducting sensitive activities, e.g., online shopping, banking or sensitive work, over public Wi-Fi. Use encrypted connections whenever possible. Additionally, routinely apply security patches to your wireless routers at home.
- Call your cell phone provider to enable a PIN or password to help prevent criminals from porting your phone to a new carrier or swapping their SIM card for yours.
Safeguard your data, mail and online shopping
Cybercriminals will ransom your data, compromise legitimate e-commerce sites, and even steal your mail, looking for checks and credit cards.
- Backup your data to a secure cloud location. Most reputable apps and devices offer automatic, secure cloud storage capabilities that are built-in and easy to use.
- Practice safe online shopping. Do business with reputable retailers and make sure your connections are encrypted by checking websites for a closed padlock icon (
) and a URL that begins with https://. - Protect your mail. Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery® , FedEx Delivery Manager®, DHL's eCommerce Tracking, and UPS My Choice to help prevent mail fraud or theft. Digitally preview your mail and manage your packages scheduled to arrive.
