Online Security: Your Part In Keeping Your Accounts Safe
By Kirsten Otto
Today we have the quickest easiest access to our financial information than ever before. It’s great! By logging in online, you can view financial information from your bank, credit card or investments on each company’s website. And, if you’ve set up your profile on our Christian Financial Advisors System you can view ALL your financial accounts and documents in one place (Click here for more info). Banks, investment & credit card companies employ the highest form of security protocols to protect your information in their systems because it is some of the most sensitive.
But, did you know that part of the task to keep your information safe online falls to you? That part is your password. Here are some tips regarding passwords to help you keep your info safe online.
- A strong password is at least 8 characters long, with a combination of upper & lower case letters, numbers & symbols
- Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts, especially for your email address. Usually your email address is linked to your financial online account, and anyone who gains access to your email could then more easily gain access to all your other accounts. Using different passwords makes it difficult for a hacker to gain access if you are targeted.
- Never use your name, birthdate, social security number, or other personal information as part of your password.
- Be wary of emails received from a financial institution directing you to click on a link and then enter your username and password. Always verify an email like this directly with the company if you aren’t expecting it.
- Finally, here’s a tip to create an easy to remember, strong password. Think of a phrase that is easy to remember like “My first pet was a dog named Rover”. Then take the first letter of each word and put it together along with a number and special character, or an abbreviation of something that is included in the sentence. Your password would look like this “M1stpwadnR!”
It is a robust password, and it is easy to remember!
Click below to read other articles from the Christian Financial Advisors July 2016 Newsletter
A Focus On Volatility
Family and Money
The Brexit Vote
The views expressed represent the opinion of Christian Financial Advisors®. The views are subject to change and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results. This material is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Stated information is derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources that have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness. While Christian Financial Advisors® believes the information to be accurate and reliable, we do not claim or have responsibility for its completeness, accuracy, or reliability. Accordingly, such statements are inherently speculative as they are based on assumptions that may involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For any discussion of equity securities: Investing in equity securities involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. While equities may offer the potential for greater long-term growth than most debt securities, they generally have higher volatility. For any discussion of taxes: Christian Financial Advisors® does not provide tax advice and encourages you to seek guidance from a tax professional.