Cyber threats aren't just a corporate problem anymore. The people being targeted are everyday individuals, and the tactics being used have gotten more convincing and harder to spot. Last fall, we brought in Mark Linton, President of FinGarde, to discuss the basics in plain language, and to help our clients take a few simple steps that make a real difference.
The throughline of the whole conversation is that you don't need to be perfect. You just need to make yourself harder to target than the next person.
Mark walked through five areas that matter most for most people:
Why multi-factor authentication (MFA) is essential.
Even if someone gets your password, MFA blocks them from getting in. Set it up on your email first (since email can reset access to everything else) then banking, investment accounts, and cloud storage.
How to recognize sophisticated phishing.
The obvious red flags people used to rely on are less reliable than they used to be. What hasn't changed is the emotional hook. Urgency, authority, and curiosity are the levers attackers pull. Stop, think about whether the message makes sense, and verify through a contact you find yourself, never one from the message.
Password strategies that balance security and convenience.
Length matters more than complexity. A long passphrase is significantly harder to crack than a short, complicated one. More importantly, never reuse passwords across accounts. A password manager generates and stores unique passwords for every account so you don't have to.
Simple daily habits that reduce risk.
Enable automatic updates on your phone, computer, and tablet. Avoid accessing financial accounts on public Wi-Fi. If your router is more than five years old, it may make sense to replace it.
What to do if you think you've been compromised.
Move fast. Disconnect from Wi-Fi, don't enter any passwords, change your credentials from a different device, and contact your bank or financial advisor right away. The faster you act, the less damage is likely to occur.
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We covered more ground in the live session, including a Q&A with some great real-world questions from clients. If anything from this conversation raises questions about your own situation, please don't hesitate to reach out.