5 Practices to Help Protect Against Cyber Crime

By Nicole Young on June 10, 2024

According to a Cybersecurity Ventures report, the cost of cybercrime hit $8 trillion in 2023, and the total annual cost is projected to rise to $10.5 trillion by 2025. Luckily, people are becoming more aware of cybersecurity and taking the necessary steps to protect themselves and their assets. Here are 5 practices to help protect against cybercrime:

Use Multifactor Authentication

Usernames and passphrases are not enough to protect accounts such as those for e-mail, banking and social media. Strengthen the security of your online accounts by using multifactor authentication tools (MFA) — like security keys or a unique, one-time code — whenever offered.

When in Doubt, Delete

Links in social media posts (and private messages), emails and online advertising are often how cybercriminals attempt to compromise your information. If there is any doubt in your mind about a link’s security, delete it, or mark it as junk.

Keep Your Machine Clean

Cybercriminals use viruses, botnets, malware and spyware to infect or take over your machine. Use antivirus software to defend against these attacks. Keep this software — and all other software on your internet-connected devices — current to reduce the risk of infection from cyberattacks.

Connect with Caution

Avoid conducting any sensitive transactions, including purchases, when on a public Wi-Fi network. Also, avoid using charging stations in airports, hotels or other public places. Cybercriminals use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices that access them.

Carefully Select your Privacy Settings

Ads, social media platforms and websites collect information about your location, browsing habits and more. The more information available, the more vulnerable you become to cyberattacks. Keep this in mind and set the privacy and security settings on websites accordingly — ultimately the best way to contain your personal information is by not sharing it in the first place.

As the above practices highlight, cybercriminals may be relentless, but their methods can be thwarted with awareness and caution. Please also know that we are continually evolving our defenses to help keep our clients’ data safe as we navigate the ever-changing digital environment.

Written By: Randy Porzel, CFP®, RICP®, Private Vista Partner

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/business/vpn/cybersecurity-statistics/#:~:text=A%20report%20on%20cybersecurity%20predicted,exceed%20%2410.5%20trillion%20in%202025.&text=In%20the%20United%20States%20alone,over%20%2410.2%20billion%20in%202022.

FBI, “The Cyber Threat,” retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/cyber#What-You%20Should%20Know. Accessed

September 9, 2022.

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