Fox News: Top 5 mistakes that could expose your financial data to cybercriminals

[riky]

Top 5 mistakes that could expose your financial data to cybercriminals

There are common habits and oversights that could leave your financial information vulnerable to cybercriminals, according to Kurt the CyberGuy.......                    ...                        ...How secure is your financial information? Let's do a little test: Do you currently have a budgeting app installed on your phone? Statistically speaking, there's a good chance you do.......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login have tried at least one. It seems like a smart move to take control of your finances, right? Unfortunately, what many people don't realize is that apps like these could be exposing your sensitive financial data.......That's just one example. There are other common habits and oversights that could leave your financial data wide You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login. ......Mistakes like these don't just jeopardize your bank account, they can lead to devastating consequences like identity theft, mounting debt and even shattered retirement plans. I'll walk you through the five biggest mistakes that could be putting your financial future at risk, and, more importantly, how to avoid them.......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......Navigating the digital world can be tricky, especially when avoiding common pitfalls that compromise your You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login. Here are the five biggest mistakes you should avoid:......This is one of the biggest pitfalls many of us fall into. There are so many things we have to do these days to keep our online security up to par. It's easy to grow complacent, essentially leaving the door wide open for cybercriminals to walk through. Here are the basics you should never forget to follow:......Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) everywhere you can, especially online accounts that hold your financial information.......Keep your software updated. Hackers exploit known weaknesses in old versions of apps, operating systems and even browsers. So, be sure to You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login on all your devices.......Avoid using You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, especially when accessing sensitive accounts like online banking or even e-commerce. If you have no other choice, use a You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to encrypt your online activity, including financial information. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......Though technically a security measure, this one's so bad, it deserves its own spot on the list. A You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login revealed that more than half of Americans reuse passwords on at least some of their accounts. Make sure you're not one of them.......When hackers compromise one account, they don't stop there. They use a technique called credential stuffing, by which stolen login details are tested on other platforms. So, if you've reused the same password for your bank account, email and favorite shopping site, one data breach can take them all down in one fell swoop.......If you don't have a perfect memory, capable of memorizing every password you'll ever need, I recommend using a trusted You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login. They can generate and store complex, unique passwords for all your accounts so you don't have to remember them yourself.......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......Budgeting apps can be a convenient tool for You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, but they also come with potential risks that many users overlook. These apps often share user data with third parties and may request extensive permissions, including access to sensitive personal information. This can raise concerns about privacy and data security, especially if the app lacks robust safeguards. Before using a budgeting app, it's crucial to carefully review its permissions and data-sharing policies to protect your financial and personal information.......Instead of relying on a budgeting app, consider utilizing your bank's online tools. Many banks offer built-in budgeting and expense-tracking features within their secure online banking platforms. These are typically more privacy-focused than third-party apps.  Here are some examples:......Bank of America: Offers You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login that break down spending trends, highlight budget categories and show total monthly spending with customizable categories.......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......Wells Fargo: Features a package called You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, which includes spending reports, personalized budget creation, goal setting and visual analysis of spending compared to budget limits.......Capital One: Provides automatedYou are not allowed to view links. Register or Login through its 360 Checking account, allowing customers to track and categorize expenses automatically. It also features Eno, a virtual assistant for transaction inquiries.......Chase: Offers built-in You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login that seamlessly integrate with your accounts. This includes features like automatic expense categorization, spending insights and personalized budget tracking. With Chase, you can also set savings goals and monitor your progress directly through their mobile app or online banking platform.......Huntington National Bank: Offers several in-app budgeting tools, including Spend Analysis for expense tracking, You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login for setting category limits and Look Ahead Calendar for visualizing upcoming payments.......Regions Bank: Provides a suite of budgeting tools called You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, accessible via mobile app and desktop, allowing customers to track expenses, set spending targets and receive suggestions for reducing expenses.......These bank-provided tools offer the advantage of being integrated directly with your accounts, potentially providing more accurate and up-to-date information while maintaining a higher level of privacy compared to third-party apps.......If you decide to stick to a budgeting app, though, make sure to check its privacy section on the App Store or Google Play, where you can see what data it collects and shares. Then, read the app's privacy policy carefully, as tedious and often deliberately overcomplicated as that can be.......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......Online shopping is convenient and tempting, especially during major sales events like You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login But diving headfirst into deals without knowing the retailer could cost you more than you bargained for.......When you shop on unfamiliar websites, you're sharing sensitive information like your financial data, address and contact details. If the retailer doesn't have strong privacy or security measures in place, this data could end up in the hands of cybercriminals or be sold to data brokers.......Even popular retailers aren't always safe. For instance, platforms You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, which attract millions of shoppers, have faced scrutiny for questionable data practices. Popularity doesn't guarantee good privacy or security standards. To protect yourself, shop only on websites with a solid reputation for security and privacy. Here's how you can verify a site before making a purchase:......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......Unless you go completely off the grid digitally — no internet, online accounts or smartphones — it's nearly impossible to avoid leaving a digital footprint. Most companies collect and share your personal information, which ends up in the hands of data brokers and people-search websites that aggregate and sell it to even more third parties.......Data brokerage is a You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login that profits off your personal information at the expense of your privacy and security. Some data brokers have even been caught You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login. People-search sites also provide an accessible way for anyone, including fraudsters, to get their hands on your personal information.......To mitigate these risks, it's crucial to periodically remove your information from these databases. While it's not a perfect solution, consistent removal can significantly reduce your exposure and safeguard both your financial data and personal safety. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......From my experience, it's easy to overlook these risks in our fast-paced, convenience-driven world. But taking just a few minutes to review your security practices can save you from a world of trouble. Don't wait until it's too late to protect yourself and your loved ones. Neglecting basic security like two-factor authentication, reusing passwords or shopping on untrustworthy websites can leave you exposed. Using finance apps that share your data, like allowing data brokers to profit off your personal information, also increases your risks of experiencing fraud and identity theft. By staying vigilant, you can protect both your finances and your loved ones.......Have you made any of the mistakes on this list, or do you have others you'd add? Let us know by writing us atYou are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toYou are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......Follow Kurt on his social channels......Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:......New from Kurt:......Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved....

Source: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login