Cyber scams are nothing new, but they have become more prevalent and easier to create due to the advent of artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and other technological advances. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3):
“In 2023, IC3 received a record number of complaints from the American public: 880,418 complaints were registered, with potential losses exceeding $12.5 billion. This is a nearly 10% increase in complaints received, and it represents a 22% increase in losses suffered, compared to 2022.”
These numbers are likely higher because not all incidents and losses are readily reported to the authorities.
If you think you are not worth being the target of online predators, think again! Hackers don’t need to know how much is in your bank account to want to get into it. Your identity, financial data and what’s in your email—it’s all valuable. Cybercriminals will cast a wide net. They are not playing by any rules. They are persistent, and they want to get to you one way or another. They’re counting on you thinking you’re not a target.
How can you reduce the chances of falling for the scams? Learn the signs! Here are 10 easy, commonsense cyber hygiene practices you can use to protect yourself online.
Delaware Life’s online safety checklist
1) Turn on multifactor authentication. Implementing multifactor authentication on your accounts can help reduce the likelihood you’ll get hacked. It is an extra step on top of your password (which can be more easily cracked or stolen) in which trusted websites and applications ask you to confirm you’re really who you say you are. Your bank, social media network, school, workplace— they want to make sure you’re the one accessing your information. In our case, when you e-sign documents, we send you a text to your phone with a code that you enter into the e-sign system to verify that you are you. That's an example of multifactor authentication.
2) Update your software. Turn on automatic updates to ensure your software stays up to date. Bad actors are constantly upgrading their hacking tools and techniques. Network defenders, anti-virus safety protocols, and firewalls are intended to fix any flaws or glitches. It is up to you to update your software with the latest fixes to prevent against the latest cyberattacks.
3) Think before you click. More than 90% of successful cyberattacks start with a phishing email. Phishing is the fraudulent practice of sending emails or other messages purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. Pause before clicking on anything, trust your instincts and think before taking any action. Phishing could come via email, a text message, or even a phone call.
4) Be cautious while online in public places. Don’t use public Wi-Fi in internet cafes, hotel lobbies, airports, or anywhere internet access is not secure. People can easily hack into computers that are connected to public Wi-Fi.
5) Use cognitive security. This is the mental piece of online security. Hackers are persistent and don’t play by rules; they want to get to a desired target one way or another. Before you click, ask some critical questions:
a) Why am I receiving this?
b) Are they trying to scare me? Are they being pushy?
c) What do they want me to do or believe?
d) Who can I call for help?
6) Use strong passwords or a passphrase.Make your passwords as strong as possible by creating the longest password or passphrase permissible, using various characters such as lower case, upper case, and special characters. Be sure to customize your standard password for different sites. Even better, use a password manager to generate and store your unique passwords.
7) Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. If you don’t recognize the number and it is a legitimate call, the caller will leave a voicemail. If it is not, they won’t leave a voicemail and will disconnect.
8) Don’t give out personal information. Keep your private information private. This includes your full name, employer, job title, account numbers, Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, home address, date of birth, family members, passwords, or any other identifying information. Guard your information from unexpected calls, emails, texts, and all other suspicious activity. No one who is reputable will call you and ask for personal information over the phone.
9) Educate yourself and your family. Establish computer usage guidelines for your family, and help your children and grandchildren understand how to use the computer, other connected devices, and the internet safely. Have candid, age-appropriate conversations with younger users to help them understand the importance of cybersecurity.
10) Beware of deep fakes. Bad actors can develop scams via inexpensive or free tools by using images, video, and voice recordings. For example, voice cloning is used to spread misinformation that ranges from mass robocalls/robotexts (e.g., campaign messages) to individual calls for extortion of money (e.g., they might say that your loved one was kidnapped or in an accident). If in doubt, hang up and call the individual in question or someone else who would know whether what is being said is true. Again, no one should call to ask you for money, make you afraid or push you to take action.
“Voicemails, public speaking, and videos are used to produce voice cloning and only three seconds of the recording is needed to create a ‘deep fake.’" —Greg Bohl, Chief Data Officer, Transaction Network Services
We live in an ever-changing world where we have to take extra precautions and think in new ways. When in doubt, reach out to your financial advisor, friend or family member to talk through any situation that raises concerns. Even if you find yourself part way into a situation that you suddenly realize is questionable, don't hesitate to stop and call for help.
Sources: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Cybersecurity%2520Awareness%2520Month_2021_PartnerPresentation_Final.pdf; https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/cybersecurity-awareness-monthpublications; https://www.cisa.gov/topics/cybersecurity-best-practices/identity-theft-and-personal-cyber-threats; https://www.cisa.gov/secure-our-world/use-strong-passwords; https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/philadelphia/news/fbi-philadelphia-emphasizes-strong-passwords-for-cybersecurity-awareness-month, accessed 12/19/2024; https://www.ic3.gov/annualreport/reports/2023_ic3report.pdf; https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/CACMinutes-26June2024.pdf, accessed 12/20/2024.
Annuities are issued by Delaware Life Insurance Company, and variable annuities are distributed by Clarendon Insurance Agency, Inc. (member FINRA). Both companies are members of Group One Thousand One (Group 1001). This communication is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be interpreted as, medical or Social Security, individualized investment, legal, or tax advice. To obtain such advice, please consult with the appropriate professional.
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