PEACEFUL, easy

Security tips to keep you safe online and off

FTC’s CEO, Fred Johnson, spends a considerable amount of his time on issues pertaining to cybersecurity and organizational risk. Here are a few of his specific, top-level suggestions on safety.

Physical safety Financial security

• Avoid dark or dimly lit spaces when crowds are not around. Conduct business during the day in well-traveled areas and be aware of people who don’t seem to fit the normal patterns of the area.

• Beware of people who offer to help you with a problem you didn’t know you have. For example, someone offers to follow you home because there is a problem with your car.

• Never let a stranger in your home. If someone knocks on your door declaring an emergency and asking for your phone, make the call for them or, better yet, call 911.

• Similarly, never give your cellphone to a stranger. If you insist on doing so, dial the number for them. Don’t let the phone out of your sight.

• Secure your cellphone with strong access codes or a PIN and never leave your phone unattended in public.

• In any given situation, trust your instincts. An alert human mind is incredibly powerful at sensing danger. If something does not feel right, it usually isn’t.

• Beware of mail theft. Use direct deposit, if possible. If you do not use a post office box, speak with your local postmaster about ways to safeguard your mail.

• Credit cards that you pay off monthly are much safer than debit cards. This is especially true for online shopping. If your card is ever compromised, it is much easier to not pay fraudulent charges than to get your money back after the theft.

• No reputable bank or company will ever call you and ask for your account information. Why would they? They already have it all. If this happens, hang up immediately and call the bank or company and report the incident.

• Do not conduct online business or banking on any mobile device when using public Wi-Fi hot spots without the use of a secure virtual private network, also known as a VPN.

• Never use an email service that does not offer or require multifactor authentication for signing into your account or affecting any changes. In many respects, your email account contains the keys to your kingdom. If someone can access it, they can do all kinds of harm. Multifactor authentication is your first line of defense.

• Get in the habit of reviewing your banking and credit card transactions on a weekly basis to be sure you don't recognize any unauthorized transactions. If you spot something odd or incorrect, report it immediately.

• Shred any papers that contain private information such as financial statements and account information.