Cyber Security Best Practices for Advisors

COVID-19-related scams are on the rise. In some cases, cybercriminals are using the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) or ads for protective gear to lure you into clicking links that could steal from you or lock your information.

Protect yourself by understanding how you could be targeted, and take some simple steps to shore up your defences.

Passwords

  • Use a different password for every site you log into.
  • Use a passphrase instead of a password.
    • Example: Iamthebestinsuranceagent20
  • Even better, use a password manager to store your passwords securely and generate strong, gibberish passwords like, “N22@6B_-L2Ys_6uDbo*zn.!@P” for you so that you never even know your passwords. That way, it’s much more difficult to be caught by a phishing attach as your password manager will not autofill your password into the attacker’s site.

2 Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication (2FA) – also known as two-step verification or multifactor authentication – is widely used to add a layer of security to your online accounts. The most common form of two-factor authentication when logging into an account is the process of entering your password and then receiving a code via text on your phone that you then need to enter. The second layer in two-factor authentication means a hacker or other nefarious individual would need to steal your password along with your phone in order to access your account.

Using 2 factor authentication reduces your chances of being hacked by 99.9%.

Antivirus / Malware

While Windows 10 has a built-in suite of security software it’s a good idea to add a secondary, paid for application. Malwarebytes Premium is a fantastic security platform that won’t slow down your computer.

Best Practices