6 Steps to Confirm Your Digital Safety

Online access is likely essential for how you live your life. Whether we’re managing our finances, shopping for necessities, planning a trip, or interacting with friends and neighbors, many of us are doing those things online.  

When your personal data is constantly in motion, keeping it safe is essential. The good news is that protecting yourself doesn’t have to be complicated. By taking a few deliberate steps on a regular basis, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to hacks, data breaches, or identity theft.  

“The digital landscape continues to evolve with new data breaches and new ways of scamming people,” says Tika Batra, cybersecurity leader at Forbright Bank. “Regular checks to your data can help you protect your financial data and catch potential threats early.” 

Follow these six steps to conduct a review of your digital safety.  

Social media platforms are common entry points for bad actors, and they find success because users often leave their profiles more open than they realize. Visit the privacy settings on every platform you use to determine who can see your posts, your contact information, and your friend or follower list.  

When possible, set your profiles to private or “friends only.” Be especially cautious about what personal details are publicly available, such as your phone number, email address, hometown, or workplace. Also review any third-party apps that have been granted access through your social accounts and revoke permissions for any you no longer use or recognize.  

Keeping your software up to date is one of the most powerful things you can do for your digital security. Cybercriminals routinely exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated operating systems, browsers, and apps. Updates from your smartphone or software provider are designed to patch those vulnerabilities.  

If possible, enable automatic updates on your devices, including your phone’s operating system, your laptop, web browser, and any applications you use regularly. Don’t ignore those update notifications, as they may be more important than they seem. A device running outdated software essentially leaves a window cracked open for intruders.  

Take a few minutes to look through the apps installed on your device and consider what access you’ve granted them. Many apps request permissions that go well beyond what they need to function. For example, a recipe app doesn’t always need access to your location, and a flashlight app doesn’t need access to your contacts.  

You can review and manage app permissions in your device settings. Look through categories like location, microphone, camera, contacts, and photos. Aim to grant apps the minimum permissions needed for them to do their jobs, and nothing more.  

If you’re still reusing the same password across multiple accounts, you’re taking a significant risk. When one site suffers a data breach, every account sharing that password becomes vulnerable, Batra says. The solution is to use strong, unique passwords for every account—and a password manager can help you keep up with all of them.  

A password manager will generate and store complex passwords for you, so you only must remember one master password. It may also flag any of your saved passwords that have appeared in known data breaches.  

Wherever possible, turn on multi-factor or biometric authentication for your accounts to add another layer of verification.  

Multi-factor authentication typically involves a code sent to your phone or generated by an app, so that even if someone obtains your password, they still can’t access your account without that second factor. Biometric authentication uses your face or fingerprint to allow login. Prioritize enabling advanced authentication on your email, banking, and social media accounts, as these may be the highest value targets for financial fraud. 

At least once a month, take time to review your bank and credit card statements and other financial accounts. “Review transactions and login alerts to make sure everything looks normal,” Batra says. “If you see any surprises, follow up and get them corrected.”  

Digital safety isn’t a one-time fix. To protect yourself and your finances, it’s important to create an ongoing practice of digital safety reviews. Consider setting a reminder to run through these checks regularly. A little vigilance can go a long way toward keeping your data and your identity safe.  

Disclaimer: This article is for general information and education only. It should not be considered financial or tax advice.