Safeguard your cell phone or tablet
Do you know how to tell if your phone has been hacked? If it stops receiving a signal and says "emergency calls only" or "no network" even after a restart, contact your telecom provider to see if your account has been compromised. Also, ask them about ways to better secure your account like verifying your identity with a PIN.
Using a PIN or lock function is the simplest and most important thing you can do to improve security on your phone or tablet—especially if it's lost or stolen. Some devices also use biometrics, like facial recognition or a fingerprint. If you have these security enhancements, use them.
Download mobile apps with caution. Before you download, check to see if anything suspicious has been reported, and carefully consider what information apps can access on your phone or tablet.
Finally, enable multi–factor authentication (MFA) to verify your identity when logging in to your mobile carrier account.
Keep your emails secure
Use MFA when accessing your email, too. Most email providers offer MFA as an option at login, and while it does add an extra step, it makes it much harder for hackers to access your messages.
Look out for suspicious emails. Don't open links or attachments to emails you're not expecting, even if they look legitimate.
Protect your home computer
Keep viruses, spyware and malware away from your personal files and information by installing antivirus software. Choose one that scans your PC on a regular basis to catch and remove potential threats.
Vulnerabilities in popular software applications—for example, most web browsers, Microsoft® Office, Adobe® Acrobat Reader, and Adobe® Flash Player—are often targeted by hackers, so stay current with installing software updates, operating system patches and major software releases.
Likewise, when your mobile device manufacturer makes a security update available, download and install it immediately. We suggest enabling autoupdate on your PC and devices, so your antivirus and other key software applications stay current without you having to do anything.
Lock down your home WiFi
Wireless home networks are convenient but leaving them unsecured is an opportunity for cyber criminals to sneak in and discover sensitive information. Secure your network by adding a unique password, only give it out to people you trust, and consider changing the password from time to time. You can also contact your internet provider about stronger encryption.
Avoid financial scams
It seems like it would be relatively simple to sidestep a scam—but not so fast. Scammers get smarter every day, and the scams more elaborate. To ensure you aren't caught unaware, we recommend following the best practices outlined here.
