Hackers will stop at nothing to gain access to your personal information and the simple truth is, most users make it incredibly easy for them to do. In this video, we’ll give you three quick tips designed to help you keep your accounts and your identity safe, coming up next …

Identity theft is rampant these days. Unfortunately, most people have bad password and data security habits making it easy for hackers to gain access to private data. Here are three simple things you can do, to better secure your passwords and accounts:

Number 1: Enable Two-Factor Authentication – These days, text-based passwords just aren’t enough and most websites offer some form of two-factor authentication. The way 2FA works can vary, but most fall into one of three categories:

* 1, A PIN or other type of code in addition to your password.
* 2, A token usually sent to a device you have, most commonly a code or link sent to your smartphone.
* Or 3, a biometric scan, which includes things like fingerprints, facial recognition, voice recognition, or retinal scanning.

Using two factor authentication does add an extra step, but it is worth it to improve security.

Number 2: Use A Virtual Private Network or (VPN) – Most people don’t even think twice about taking advantage of public WiFi hotspots, but the simple truth is that these are highly insecure and potentially dangerous. To minimize your risk, you should always make use of a VPN to encrypt your data transmissions.

Number 3: Be wary of emails containing phishing links. Scammers can craft emails that look very similar to that of your bank or credit card company. If something looks strange avoid clicking any links and use a bookmark to get your banking site instead, or call your bank to verify the email in question. Remember, banks and credit card companies will never ask for personal information via email.

Robust account security is your first line of defense when it comes to protecting your personal data. Simple passwords are no longer enough to keep your accounts safe. Don’t take any chances. If your organization needs help with IT security, give our team a call.

NewQuest IT Solutions, LLC
(325) 716-4060
www.newquest-it.com