Tag Archives: cybersecurity

Online Safety Tips for Remote Workers

Whether you’ve been working from home for a while or just recently started, getting a refresher on staying safe online is always a good idea. Working remotely comes with being at risk for a cyber-attack, which can be dangerous for your private work data. Read these online security tips to ensure you’re doing what you can to keep cybercriminals away.

Keep Your Work Covered

It’s always nice to change up the scenery and visit a park or coffee shop to get some work done. Working in public does come with its concerns, so make sure you’re playing it safe. Don’t let those around you peek at your screen or see what work you’re doing. You never know what strangers are up to and it’s better to be safe than sorry. Cybercriminals can be anywhere!

Always Use Strong Passwords

Not only should your accounts be protected with a strong password, but your devices should be, too. Make sure your laptop, phone and other devices are locked with a secure password. Remember not to use the same password across multiple accounts – if one password is compromised, then all of your accounts could be taken over. A great tool for this is a password manager, which will create and remember strong and secure passwords for you.

Set Up Two-Factor Authentication

Along with having a strong password comes the importance of two-factor authentication. This will add an additional step to your login process to make sure your account is protected and not being hacked. Some common ways this works is through an email/text confirmation or fingerprint scan. Two-factor authentication ensures that, even if your password is compromised, you still have a backup plan in action.

Beware of Public Wi-Fi

Using public Wi-Fi is the prime way that cybercriminals are able to access your data. They’re using the same network as you, making it much easier for them to hack your device or accounts. If you’re doing work in a public place, use a personal hotspot or a VPN to encrypt your internet traffic, which would make it unreadable to others.

We hope these tips were good reminders for those of you who work remotely. Cybersecurity is becoming more and more important as technology advances, so be sure to share this information with coworkers, family, friends and others you know who are working from home!

Cybersecurity Tips for Small Businesses

Concerns about cyberattacks on small businesses continue to grow, and knowing how to protect your business is crucial. Because smaller businesses don’t have the same amount of security as big businesses, they’re prime victims for cybercriminals. Keep reading to learn the best ways to keep your small business out of online danger.

Always use strong and secure passwords

This is the most obvious and well-known cybersecurity tip, but it’s one of the most important. If you want any sort of protection from hackers, your passwords must be strong, secure and updated regularly.

Never use the same password for multiple accounts

Going along with the first tip, password security is a must. Not only should your passwords be strong and updated, but they should differ on each account. Using the same password for multiple accounts is risky because if one account is compromised, they all are.

Keep your software updated

Outdated and old versions of apps can be more vulnerable to hacker access. A great way to keep your software secure is to install all updates for software and applications as soon as they’re made available.

Use VPNs (Virtual Private Networks)

VPNs are made to encrypt all traffic that leaves and enters your device. Using a VPN is a smart step towards securing your business’s information. If a cybercriminal somehow hacks you and intercepts your information, it will all be encrypted data which is useless for them.

Train your employees properly

Being consistent with your employees is extremely important for your small business’s online safety. Make sure all employees know what precautions to take, how to use and handle business information and what the penalties are for failing to follow those rules.

Try hacking your own system

Hiring an IT specialist to analyze and audit your system to search for weaknesses is a great way to see what needs to be improved. Doing this will help you understand how to better protect your small business. Most small businesses are very under-protected when it comes to cyber safety and protecting their information. We hope you’ll follow these tips and take all the necessary precautions in order to keep your small business out of harm’s way.

7 Personal Cybersecurity Tips

As time goes on and technology expands, people are becoming more and more prone to cybercriminal attacks. By following some basic tips, you could avoid a multitude of problems in the future!

1. Use Strong and Varying Passwords

This is probably the most obvious and common cybersecurity tip known to web users. Don’t underestimate the importance of your password strength! Change your password every once in a while to be safe (recommended at least once a year). Also, don’t use the same password for more than one account.

2. Be Careful With Your Personal Info

Personal information, like your address, birthday or phone number, should be posted carefully. The smartest option would just be to keep as much of that information off of your social media as possible. These personal details are used by cybercriminals to locate individuals. Better safe than sorry!

3. Recognize and Stay Away From Phishing

Phishing is when someone poses as someone they aren’t to trick people into giving them information, clicking on a dangerous links, etc. This is the most common way ransomware attacks originate. Be suspicious about the emails and messages you receive and don’t open messages from people you don’t know.

4. Utilize Two-Factor Identification

Many social media sites have two-factor identification options and most users don’t take advantage of this helpful security option. Two-factor identification prompts you to not only enter your username and password, but also another personal identification code.

5. Update Your Software

Keeping your device’s software updated might not seem like a safety-related tip, but both businesses and consumers have suffered from hackers due to not updating. Try turning on the automatic updates offered on your device.

6. Say No to Public Wi-Fi

Using public Wi-Fi if it’s available seems like a no-brainer. What most people don’t realize is how much easier it is for cybercriminals to access your accounts and devices when you’re connected to a public Wi-Fi network.

7. Install Trusted Apps Only

Not all applications are safe, and not all of them can be trusted. Check reviews and ratings before installing anything you’re unfamiliar with!

Don’t let yourself fall into the statistics of those dealing with cybercriminals! Protect your devices, accounts and personal information by following these tips and always being cautious online.

Online Safety: Family Edition

Today, having both Internet access and safety seems nearly impossible. While technology can be enriching and educational, it has its downsides. How can you protect your family from the dangers of the Internet while also allowing them access? Keep reading for some of our online safety tips for families.

Be Careful What Information You’re Sharing

Many hackers and identity thieves feed off oversharing. Be careful which websites you’re entering personal information into – don’t trust just any website. Oversharing is also dangerous on social networks, so be sure to make your kids aware of the information that shouldn’t ever be shared, like driver’s licenses, usernames or passwords, addresses, social security numbers, etc.

Be Careful Using Public Wi-Fi

Connecting to a public Wi-Fi network can seem harmless and convenient, but that’s not always true. Using public Wi-Fi in places like restaurants and malls is an easy way for hackers and cybercriminals to hack your information. Remember to use a VPN when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network.

Keep an Eye on Your Social Media Networks

Random messages from unknown users have become more common. Although it seems obvious to ignore spam messages, delete them and move on, kids might not know to do that. Teach your kids to never respond to an unknown person’s message online, and emphasize how dangerous it is to respond to strangers. The smartest move is to get your kids into the habit of coming to you when they receive a strange message so you can double check the user’s profile.

Educate Your Children

Most of the time, the reason kids fall into the trap of hackers is because they’re uneducated. Give your kids a mini lesson about what cybersecurity is, why it’s so important and how they can protect themselves. Remind them that if anything seems unusual, they should talk to you so you can make sure the situation is safe.

Manage Your Passwords

Most Internet users have the same couple of passwords for all of their accounts, making the hacking process even easier. There are safe password management systems allowing you to use a different password for all of your accounts, while only having to remember one password for the system.

Backup Your Data

Cybercriminals that hack into your computer can lock you out of your own important files and information. Keep your files backed up regularly so in that situation, you know your files aren’t lost.

Although there are many ways your cybersecurity can be compromised, there are multiple ways to protect yourself and your family. We hope you protect your information with these top tips!

Cybersecurity Check: How Secure Are Your Actions?

It’s 2020 and more than time to be certain your cybersecurity practices are up to date. Cybercriminals become more advanced and attuned to the different ways to penetrate vulnerabilities of those who aren’t up to date on security. These are the top actions you need to take. Can you say yes to any of these?

Are you cautious with the applications on your phone?

Sometimes, there’s a false sense of security when it comes to phone applications. Apps are used for about everything these days and too often users think they are safer than they are. You may have noticed that pop ups can still occur on these applications and can pose a security risk to you and the information held on your device. You may even click on the ad accidently while it takes you to a suspicious website.

Is your software up to date?

Yes, we realize that having to update your phone or computer can be a nuisance. It can be frustrating at times because it may change the layout of certain features on your phone. Yet, we would still recommend updating due to the protection it provides. It will help to patch vulnerabilities and fortify your wall of protection.

Are you aware of phishing scams?

How attuned are you to phishing scams? Phishing is when the cybercriminal acts like someone else in order to trick the victims. Be sure to: never open an email from someone you don’t know, click on unfamiliar links and always be suspicious when it comes to emails – even from friends that may send harmful links unknowingly.

Are your passwords updated periodically?

It’s frustrating to have to remember many different passwords and to constantly be updating them. But it is still less of a headache than it would be if you had your identity stolen or your data held for ransom. Never use the same password twice and update each password at least once a year.

Is your PII Personal?

PII stands for personal identification information. This includes your address, birthdate, birthplace and middle name. These are often listed on many people’s social media pages. Sometimes all it takes to have your identity stolen is your full name and birthdate. Be sure to remove this from your pages and to keep it private.

For more tips on how to stay ahead of the cybersecurity curve, contact us today!

Top Cybersecurity Tips for Traveling

Whether traveling for fun or for work, you are hopefully busy enjoying the sites. However, it can be easy to get caught up in the adventure that you forget to stay on top of your personal cybersecurity protection. While you begin packing your bag, don’t forget this list of top cybersecurity tips!

Update all of your devices.

You’ve probably made sure your devices are charged, your toiletry bag is refilled and you have new reading material for your voyage. But before walking out the door for your trip, you need to update every device you have. These periodic updates that you see from the manufacturer do more than produce slight layout changes. They protect your device by patching holes and fixing bugs in the software. If not done, your wall of protection has weak points that can be taken advantage of.

Watch out for wandering eyes.

In addition to keeping an eye out for anyone who may physically take your device or other items, watch out for lurkers. They may be looking over your shoulder or at your laptop from behind you. They’ll be looking out for any information that can tell them how to enter into your device.

Always lock devices.

If you don’t have a passcode on your devices, you will want to get one. Don’t make it easier for criminals!

Remove auto-connect features.

Sometimes, it can be great to know that most public places nowadays have free Wi-Fi. Especially when traveling internationally, you may rely on this to send a simple text message to family back home. However, for your own security, it’s most important that you disable the auto-connect feature on your Wi-Fi. You want to set up your device so that it only connects to networks that you consciously choose.

Turn off Bluetooth.

Similar to Wi-Fi auto-connect, Bluetooth should be turned off unless you are choosing to use it. The reason for this is that criminals will use this as an opportunity to connect themselves to your phone and crack into it remotely. If you’re like most people, you have a lot of PII (Personally Identifiable Information) on your phone. This can be used to take your identity.

Statistics on Cybercrime

You are 20 times more likely to be robbed on your computer than on the street.
14.4 million people were victims of identity theft in 2018.
It is estimated that 33 billion records will be stolen in 2023.
The US government spent $15 billion towards cybersecurity in 2019.

With these tips in mind, we hope you have a safe and fun travel experience!

Cybersecurity Safety Tips for Your Business

Don’t let living your dream of owning your own business end because of cybercrime. Stay on top of the latest defenses when it comes to cybercrime by implementing even one of these tips for your business.

Never Assume You Are 100% Secure

Unfortunately, you can never be fully protected against a cyber threat. The minute you sit back and think that you are invulnerable is the best time for a cybercriminal to strike. There will always be a new potential threat. There may even be an employee mistake or a broken piece of data. It’s important to always be looking for ways to improve security.

Amp Up Authentication

Every point of digital access to the internal working of your company should be blocked by outsiders with authentication. Authentication is a way of signing into a device with a code only authorized users have access to. Many companies are switching to Multi-Factor Authentication, which requires users to confirm their identity twice, often through the device and then a phone. This is simply an added layer of protection.

Hire a Hacker

Not all hackers are ill-intentioned. Many work legally to help businesses discover the risks of penetrability. They will be able to evaluate areas that can use strengthening.

Email Education

The weakest point of business cyber defense is often employees. Even if the worker is well-intentioned, they can still make defense mistakes. One common area of cybercrime is email. It’s an easy way for the perpetrator to access your company internally. This is why it’s important to not only have spam filters but ensure that all employees go through email education so they know what a suspicious email looks like.

Be Aware of Personal Device Risks

Many businesses allow workers to bring in their personal devices and use them to conduct business. This can be dangerous, as there is likely not the same security software on their personal devices that you have for your business. This is another way for cybercriminals to get into your business’s information.

Get on the Cloud

Keep your important business information on the Cloud, in order to avoid it getting taken from you forever. It’s currently the most used technology for small businesses. You can utilize it for managing finances, storing, sharing and accessing information from anywhere.

These are just some of the basics of business cybersecurity. They are all fairly inexpensive and can likely save you from a headache of trouble if you were to get hacked. For more information on cybersecurity tips or business accounts, give us a call!

Cybersecurity Tips for College Students

There’s quite a learning curve in just about every way possible for college students out on their own for the first time. While a characteristic of college students is being tech-savvy, it doesn’t always mean that they know how to stay safe from cyber threats that advance and evolve every day. When they enter college, they become a part of the #2 targeted industry for cybersecurity threats. College students should take these tips with them throughout their college career.

Know that you have value.

While we mean this in a feel-good way, what we’re really talking about here is the incorrect notion that college students think they have no monetary value worth stealing. This could not be further from the truth. Your social security number alone is incredibly valuable on the black market. When you realize that you have something valuable worth stealing, you may be more likely to use caution when online.

Old school personal theft is a cybercrime risk.

Of course you don’t want to get your laptop stolen because of its expensive cost. Unfortunately, many thieves don’t just want the item, but want your data and personal information off of the laptop or phone. Never leave your items unattended or expect that you are ever completely in a “theft free” zone.

Everything needs a passcode.

It may be somewhat of a hassle, but be sure all of your electronic devices have a passcode in addition to a physical lock.

Reconsider public workstations.

Your university may offer some public workstations for your use. They are convenient but don’t always have the best cyber protection installed. If you must use a public computer, be sure you don’t save your passwords on it and log out of everything before leaving the station. Never treat it as your own computer, so be sure to remove all files of yours before leaving the device.

To Torrent or Not to Torrent? Don’t!

For those who don’t know, torrent websites are a way for users to share files and distribute data over the internet. We can say with some confidence that it’s better to stay completely away from these. 1 in 3 users are exposed to malware by utilizing torrent websites. It’s tempting to get free textbooks and movies off of these sites, but it’s not worth the risk.

Give us a call if you have questions about cybersecurity when it comes to online banking!

Closing the Door on Cybercrime: What Business Owners Should Know

If you’re a small business owner, you’re likely a dreamer and a doer. The dreamer side of you hopes that your business will never be infiltrated and the doer side of you is reading this blog, ready to take an active defense on cybercrime. You will need both of these great qualities in order to seal your doors from those who want to take from your business and keep them wide open for customers. Here’s how:

Train Employees

While you may know your employees well or at least trust them to do their due diligence in security, mistakes can happen if employees aren’t properly trained in cybersecurity. This should be a part of their onboarding process on day one, as well as implementing required training throughout the course of their employment. They should understand how to use all of the company security procedures in addition to understanding the crucial importance of those procedures. Some of which may be:

Allowable Internet Usage
Remote Access Security Measures
Restricted Use Of Removable Media (USB or CDs)

Backup All Data

Imagine if you went to log into your business systems tomorrow and all of your data was either wiped or being held for ransom by a cybercriminal. We hope that you would not have to panic because you routinely back up your data. It can cost hundreds of dollars a minute to have your systems down. You can either backup data on the cloud or on a physical device capable of handling the information. For some businesses, it’s not only their own data at risk, but those of clients. Keep your reputation and client trust strong.

It’s Time for Another Password

We know, we know. It seems about everything needs a unique password these days and it can be difficult to keep up. However, it is this way because it works. Be sure that all your staff changes their passwords at least every three months.

Don’t Forget to Update

Just as it is important to backup data, it is just as important to continually update your systems. If there are gaps in updates, it leaves room for cybercriminals to enter. This is called “patching” in the tech world. Keep your software like a tight, impregnable wall by ensuring all of the necessary updates are made whenever possible. This can be done by automating updates, so you don’t let it slip by!

Keep your business safe by utilizing our safe and secure banking products. We’re happy to help you find safe ways to grow your funds.

Protect Yourself From Social Networking Site Hacks

In the world of social media, everything nowadays is online and public for all to view. With the numerous updates we face every day, it’s important to keep yourself up-to-date on what social networking sites share to others and how you can limit those settings. Protect yourself online with these simple tips to start!

Be Cautious When Adding Friends

Being constantly bombarded with friend requests and follows slowly weakens your cautiousness. You begin to accept more people without really digging in. This makes you a target for hackers. When someone has a friend in common on Facebook, this doesn’t mean you should just add them. Make sure you truly know the person before accepting a follow/friend request. Comb through your friends list now and delete those you don’t know.

Update Your Privacy Settings

It’s important to update your privacy settings so only friends and followers can see your posts. Hackers and other unwanted viewers are able to see your posts and photos if you keep things on public. Facebook answers some common privacy settings questions here.

Don’t Enable Auto Login

Yes, it’s easier to have your phone and computer “remember” your password and username. However, if someone were to gain access to your phone, they would automatically have access to all material and credit card info that is auto saved on sites.

Change Passwords Frequently

This may be an old tip, but it is the MOST important. Changing your password every 30-60 days and making sure it’s different from your other accounts will increase your security online exponentially.

Stop Geotagging

This is one of the most dangerous features now enabled on social networks and devices. Most people don’t realize Twitter and Instagram both use geotagging (which stores the latitude and longitude of your Tweet or image) for everything you send out. Pictures you take on an iPhone usually store geotagging information as well. This gives unwanted people way too much information about your location. See how you can turn this feature off on an iPhone and iPad here.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

This feature has become an important addition to many social networking sites. It can be frustrating when trying to log in on a new device, but enabling Two-Factor Authentication means you will be alerted right away if someone is trying to log in.

These security tips are easy ways to start down the path of becoming more secure while online. It’s better to be aware of the features these sites hold and know exactly how they can help or hurt you. At Heartland Bank, we take pride in how secure our clients’ information is and aim to help others protect themselves.