It seems that there is a word of a data breach every day, most recently, Carnival Cruise Lines and Charter Communications. And while many of these breaches affect large numbers of people, two groups of people tend to be targeted. These are the elderly, who are often more vulnerable, and the financially successful, who present a larger prize. So, what if your digital life is not as secure as you think?

After all, you may be using a handful of apps or programs online. These can be banking and investment accounts, tax software, email accounts, cloud storage, social media, medical portals, shopping apps, and possibly payroll and employee data. All of these are very valuable to both you and a prospective online thief.

So, here are some things to think about to ensure your digital security:

Why Financially Successful Individuals Are Often Targeted

These days, cybercriminals are looking for a payout in two ways: a large number of small amounts or a larger prize. One way to do that is to go after successful individuals and their families and exploit digital security lapses. They figure that somebody who can spare the money is more likely to pay to avoid the hassle. They are also interested in intellectual property, corporate data, and other trade secrets. Attacks like these are often sophisticated, and individuals are seen as more vulnerable than corporations.

They may go after people with phishing, ransomware, identity theft, and extortion, and they are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools to launch attacks. They may even exploit smart home devices as part of a physical burglary.

Common Signs Your Digital Security May Be Weaker Than You Think

You may not have experienced a major breach, but there are some things to look out for that may show you have some holes in your security.

• Reused password alerts. Modern systems often let you know when you are using a password on multiple sites.
• Password breach alerts. On the same lines, you may also get alerts saying your password was involved in a data breach. You can also use Have I Been Pwned to find out if your email address was in a breach.
• New login alerts from unfamiliar locations. The more of these you get, the worse the problem.
• Unexpected password reset emails. You may get these on request, or if a site has been breached, but if you get a series of them, it might be a problem. The same with account recovery emails you didn’t request.
• Unauthorized charges on your credit card.
• Devices are acting strangely.
• Being informed that phishing attempts are being sent from your email. Most of the time, this is email spoofing, but if it happens a lot, you may have been compromised.

Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference

You don’t necessarily have to hire a personal cybersecurity consultant. But even some small changes can really help your digital security. Here are our top suggestions:

1. Use a password manager. A password manager means you don’t have to remember a hundred different passwords (making it easier to use better passwords or passphrases and reducing reused passwords).
2. Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA can be annoying, but it greatly increases the safety of your accounts.
3. Keep software and operating systems updated. Replace any device that no longer gets security updates promptly.
4. Monitor financial accounts regularly. Watch for unexpected transactions.
5. Be skeptical of urgent requests. Cybercriminals often play on emotion by asking for a quick response. With modern AI tools, it’s easier than ever to impersonate somebody, so contact the person through other channels to verify the request.
6. Protect important documents. Back everything up (this allows you to deal with ransomware by wiping the infected device and restoring).

Take Control of Your Digital Security

It doesn’t take a lot to slay the “what-if” beast of your digital life. The most important thing is to use good passwords and not reuse them across sites. If you have more questions about how your digital and financial lives intersect, contact CrossleyShear today!