Category: Online Safety Tips

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Online Safety Tips

I think I may have been scammed. What should I do now?

I think I may have been scammed. What should I do now?

Scammers are good at what they do, and they are very good at extracting highly personal and secure information. They will sound professional and knowledgeable. They may also give you what appears to be a legitimate web address, a real business address, and charity information that sounds valid. It is not uncommon to fall victim to charity scams, so it is important to know what to do if you have.

 

Start by making an assessment of the situation:

  • How did you pay/make your contribution? if you paid with a credit card or debit card, immediately call the company or bank that issued the card to report a fraudulent charge.
  • Did you send a wire transfer either through your bank or a company like Western Union? Contact your bank or the wire transfer company to report a fraudulent transfer.
  • Did you pay with a gift card? Contact the company who issued the gift card to report the scam.`
  • Did you pay with cryptocurrency? Contact the company from which you transferred the currency to report a fraudulent transaction.
  • Did you pay with cash? You can attempt to track your payment through the U.S. Postal Inspection Service or, if you sent money through a different service, contact the company to try and track the payment.
  • Did you give your social security number or a username and password to any type of personal accounts? Start by visiting Identitytheft.gov to see what the next steps are. If you gave out a username and password, immediately change the login information to a new username/password that is strong. If you have used the same password elsewhere, be sure to change it there as well.

Prevention Resources

What to do if you suspect a scam or if you’re the victim of a scam:

IMMEDIATELY contact your financial advisor or contact Schwab Alliance at (800) 515-2157

Learn more about scams:

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I want to make a donation, but how do I make sure I’m sending my contribution the right way?

I want to make a donation, but how do I make sure I'm sending my contribution the right way?

Once you have concluded your research and chosen a charity, here are tips for safely making a contribution:

 

Safety Tips:

  • Never pay with wire transfers or gift cards. This is the first sign of a scam. If someone asks you to pay using these methods, STOP. Scammers request these methods because the are difficult to track.
  • Don’t give out secure information. Remember that fundraising contributions don’t require highly secure information such as your social security or bank account numbers.
  • Never donate with cryptocurrency. If you are asked to contribute with cryptocurrency, most likely you are being scammed.
  • If you are making a payment through a website, confirm that the charity is a legitimate organization and that the website is secure. You can verify this if the web address starts with “https://.” If you see this, then the site is secure and information is encrypted and transmitted securely. However, just because the site shows it is secure, the website may not always be legitimate. Make sure you use the previously listed resources to do your research before making a payment online.

Things to Keep an Eye Out For:

  • Charity fundraising calls can only be made between 8am and 9pm.
  • They have to tell you the name of the charity and the reason for their call.
  • They cannot use robocalls or pre-recorded messages to reach you and they must give you a way to opt-out of future calls.
  • They need to tell the truth about the charity, the mission of the charity, if your donation is tax deductible, how the donation will be used, and if the charity has an affiliation with the government.

Once you have made your donation, keep a record and monitor your bank account and credit card statements. You’ll want to confirm that you were charged the correct amount and that you have not been signed up for recurring donations. Additionally, for tax purposes, you will need a receipt of your donation, so be sure to get this from the charity upon payment.

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Is it safe to donate to an organization who asks for a contribution over the phone?

Is it safe to donate to an organization who asks for a contribution over the phone?

Not all calls made for charitable contributions are a scam, but it is very important to perform some due diligence before you donate. Remember, you are not obligated to make a contribution at that moment, and you can take some time to do your research before making that decision.

 

Pre-Research Questions to Ask:

  • What is the charity’s exact name, web address, and mailing address?
  • How much of my donation will go directly to the program I want to help?
  • Are you raising money for a charity or a Political Action Committee (PAC)?*
  • Will my donation be tax deductible?

Things to Keep an Eye Out For:

  • Charity fundraising calls can only be made between 8am and 9pm.
  • They have to tell you the name of the charity and the reason for their call.
  • They cannot use robocalls or pre-recorded messages to reach you and they must give you a way to opt-out of future calls.
  • They need to tell the truth about the charity, the mission of the charity, if your donation is tax deductible, how the donation will be used, and if the charity has an affiliation with the government.

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Learn More About Password Managers

Learn More About Password Managers

Dreaming up a different password for every site and service is the only way to keep your stuff safe online, but it’s also a gigantic nuisance. There’s one thing you can—and should—do to help: Get a password manager program. The three programs below all will help in lessening your password woes. Please see the break down below and choose one that would work for you.

 

But, wait—isn’t storing all your passwords in one place a terrible idea? It’s better than reusing easily remembered passwords everywhere. Password managers hide your information behind a master password that only you know.

 

Nothing is 100% guaranteed, but all three of these managers take the additional security step of never sending your master password over the Internet. They’re like a safe-deposit box that a professional keeps without knowing what’s inside, or even holding a key to open it.

 

In an age where more of our personal information lives, password protected, up in the cloud, we need defenses beyond antivirus software. Using a password manager is the next step.

 

These programs are becoming increasingly popular as hackers try to infringe on your personal data through passwords that can be cracked as easily as eggs. Here, I’ve put three of the most popular password managers to the test to help you choose the software that best suits your needs.

 

Dashlane

LastPass

1Password

Encryption and database

Like 1Password and LastPass, Dashlane uses the AES-256 encryption for its database. The key that encrypts the data is derived from the master password: the decrypted data is not stored on your device or Dashlane’s servers.

 

Dashlane gives you the possibility to keep encrypted data locally on one device, or to sync it between multiple devices via Dashlane’s servers. The encrypted data is hosted on Dashlane’s servers and is downloaded and decrypted every time.

 

Just like Lastpass, Dashlane lets you add two-factor authentication options to enhance the security of your master password.

 

Integration with browsers

Dashlane is compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari. The application lets you import your saved passwords in Firefox or another browser.

 

Threat prevention

Dashlane sends security alerts directly to your devices when your passwords could be compromised. Dashlane also advises on the saved passwords.

 

Platforms

Dashlane is available for: Android | iOS | Mac | Windows

 

Encryption and database

With Lastpass, all your data is encrypted locally on your PC using AES 256 encryption, and you’re the only one who can unlock it. Your key doesn’t leave your device, and it’s never shared with LastPass.

 

The only downside is that the program requires an internet connection because the encrypted data is hosted on LastPass servers by default. Fortunately, you can access the data without an internet connection through the LastPass Pocket app.

 

One good thing is that LastPass supports two-factor authentication. It’s a  practical solution to add another layer of security to the master password.

 

Integration with browsers

LastPass is compatible with the following browsers: Chrome, Dolphin Browser, Firefox, Firefox Mobile, Internet Explorer, Maxthon, Opera, and Safari. The app also imports existing passwords from Firefox and Internet Explorer.

 

Threat prevention

LastPass offers a line of defense against phishing attacks, and it will not fill in forms hosted on malicious websites. The application also analyzes passwords to find out if they’re weak: LastPass will warn you when you’re using a weak password when logging into your accounts, and it’ll send you security alerts every time a new security breach is discovered.

 

Platforms

LastPass is available for: Android | BlackBerry| iOS | Linux | Mac | Windows | Windows Phone

 

Encryption and database

1Password uses AES-256 encryption but stores all your data locally on your computer. Even if you choose to synchronize your data with other devices, your master password, the unique decryption key, never leaves your computer or device. Decryption is always done locally and the decrypted data is never written on the disk.

 

With 1Password, using the cloud is an option, not a requirement. The software lets you synchronize data between devices via iCloud and Dropbox, or locally through Wifi. It’s an ideal solution for mobile users who are more cautious about the cloud.

 

Integration with browsers

1Password is compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Safari. Extensions allow the app to automatically save new passwords entered in the browser and to automatically fill out forms with just one click.

 

Threat prevention

The Watchtower feature in 1Password identifies sites that are vulnerable to cyber attacks and tells you which passwords you should change. The app will tell you which sites to avoid, and gives you the green light to change your password after covering security holes.

 

Another good feature is that 1Password will also tell you if your passwords aren’t safe enough, are duplicate, or are obsolete so that you can update them.

 

Platforms

1Password is available for: Android | iOS | Mac | Windows | Windows Phone

 

All three password managers are very similar in many ways. On a security level, they all use the AES-256 security standard and store their data locally. In the end, your preference for one or another will boil down to the additional features of each program.

 

Dashlane’s mobile apps will give an experience (auto-completion, generating passwords) that’s very close to what is offered for PC thanks to a dedicated keyboard on Android and a full browser on iOS.

 

For LastPass, it’s the unparalleled variety of available platforms what will make the difference. Of the three, this is the only one that supports Linux, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Symbian, and Firefox OS, an ideal choice if you’re using one of these platforms. The app, however, syncs your encrypted data on its servers by default, a solution that will discourage those who are most skeptical about cloud security.

 

1Password is notable for how easy it is to use and its elegant design. If you fear that you’ll end up with something indecipherable, 1Password is a good solution. This is indeed the best password manager for less advanced users, and the function that lets you sync data between devices via Wi-Fi could attract savvy users not wanting their data copied to the cloud.

 

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How to Create Secure Passwords

How to Create Secure Passwords

Choosing your password well and keeping it a secret can be key steps to safeguarding all of your online transactions. To create a password that is more difficult to guess, use a combination of letters and numbers for passwords you create, such as “4funcallC3po” or “Il9vemyd1g.” Certain passwords are easier to compromise, so try to avoid common pitfalls by creating secure passwords:

 
  • Don’t base your password on personal information—such as the name of your pet or your company.
  • Don’t use a word found in the dictionary as your password.
  • Avoid substituting numbers for letters, for example: using a zero for the letter “o” or a one for the letter “i.” These substitutions are well known and predictable.
  • Don’t use your User ID as your password.
  • Don’t use simple number sequences like “12345” or a series of duplicate numbers like “11111”
  • Change your password frequently, and don’t “recycle” a password you’ve used somewhere else.

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Ways to Spot Email Fraud

Ways to Spot Email Fraud

Many Internet scams today involve email messages that appear to come from a trusted source, but are not trustworthy. Additionally, email attachments can be harmful because they may contain viruses.

 

The below can be indications that an email is fake:

  • The email claims to be from a legitimate company requesting that you change your password by clicking on a link. It may even threaten to suspend your account if you do not do this.
  • The email claims to be from a person in authority requesting a copy of a password file, User ID, Social Security number, or banking information.
  • The email asks you to verify your account information by clicking on a link and filling in a form.
  • Right click on the link in the email and select properties. If the section under URL Address contains an “@” symbol or does not appear to be a tdameritrade.com address then it is likely fraudulent.

Here are some ways to protect yourself from email fraud:

  • Do not reply to any email asking for personal information.
  • Use antivirus software and keep it updated. Scan all attachments with an antivirus software program before downloading
  • Do not visit links sent by email as these can lead to phishing sites— sites made to look legitimate and designed to collect your personal information. One way to avoid this is to enter the URL into your browser instead of clicking the link.
  • Do not open or reply to spam email which can prompt more spam to be sent to your inbox.
  • Turn off the “preview pane,” as this allows some viruses to be executed even if you never actually open the email.
  • Report suspicious email to your advisor and Trek Financial.

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Guidelines to consider when it comes to online safety

Guidelines to Consider When it Comes to Online Safety

Start with these three important guidelines:

 

1.) Don’t share your User ID or password with anyone and don’t write it down. 

 

2.) Avoid accessing your account from public computers such as in an Internet cafe, library, hotel, etc. These public computers can be accessed by malicious users who may have been installed software in them to record keystrokes.

 

3.) When you are finished accessing your accounts always log off and close your browser.

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