The safety of your finances is our utmost priority. In the digital age, safeguarding them from the invisible threats that lurk online cannot be understated. The layers of cyber security controls and safeguards are an increasingly important backbone of organisations these days, and at Quilter Cheviot Financial Planning, this is something that we take extremely seriously.
Recently, the National Cyber Security Centre have introduced stricter regulations for smart device manufacturers, while the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have shared guidance on avoiding cyber attacks. But let’s not leave it all to the tech gurus. We all still have a role to play in staying safe on our smart devices, and, although they may sound obvious, these three simple steps can help you fortify your defences against digital attacks.
- Powering up your new device? Great! If it comes with default passwords, swap them for something only you would know, using a combination of character types to make it safe from cyber snoops.
- Embrace two-step verification The more steps needed to access your device or apps, the harder it is to crack. If you have the option to use two-step verification, which is now commonplace, use it.
- Stay ahead with updates Updates often include new security measures to combat cybersecurity threats. Don’t ignore prompts to update devices or apps and turn on the automatic updates option, if available.
In the world of cybersecurity, proactivity is the best strategy. Keep your finances secure, and you keep your future secure.