The new year is often a time for starting fresh, and many of us use this opportunity to kick-start new habits with the goal of living a healthier and happier life.
However, one area that is often overlooked in these conversations is financial security.
Read more: https://everly.eu/2023/01/25/how-much-is-a-bank-bonus-worth-to-you/
In order to help you have your most secure year yet, here are some small changes you can make in 2023 that will have a big impact on the security of your money and your data.
Up Your Password Game
One of the most overlooked security measures you can control is the strength of your passwords. Using weak passwords and relying on the same or similar passwords for multiple accounts puts you at risk.
Plus, it’s good practice to change your passwords every three months and to keep up-to-date with any security breaches where your passwords may have been affected.
The PAO Method
With the PAO method, you create a mental image to help you remember your password. For example, you first imagine an interesting place (e.g Niagara Falls), then you imagine a celebrity (e.g. Beyonce), then you imagine a random object (e.g. an N26 bank card), and a verb (e.g. diving).
Then you combine these images to create a scene in your mind: Beyonce diving with an N26 bank card into Niagara Falls.
Get to Grips with 2FA
Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, adds an extra step to the login process, making your accounts much more secure.
The most common 2FA practice is to send a text or an email with a special code that you need to enter when you log in to an account, such as your bank account. In order to proceed with logging in, you need to enter this code beside your password.
Become Scam-Savvy
Scammers move with the times. Taking advantage of new technology, crises, and often using social engineering to manipulate their victims, it pays off to educate yourself about the latest scams — and how to avoid them.
Here are some of the most popular scams to look out for in 2023:
Phishing Scams
Phishing scams work by sending a malicious link to a target, usually in either a text or an email. The message will often sound like a respected institution sent it such as a government or a bank, and the tone will often be urgent, pressuring the recipient to act quickly and open the link.
Once opened, the link can install malware on the victim’s device, or trick them into sharing personal information such as bank details.
Romance Scams
Whether you love them or hate them, dating apps do make it easier to meet new people. The flip side, though, is that they’re a perfect platform for romance scammers to find unsuspecting victims. Once they get a match, these con artists focus on gaining their target’s trust and gradually building a relationship with them before asking for money.
Romance scammers will either ask for funds to be sent to them directly, for their target to buy something for them, or they’ll ask them to put money into a fake investment opportunity.
The bottom line? Never send money in any form to someone you’ve only just met online or in person, even if you feel like you can trust them.
