Around $8 trillion in stolen funds was attributed to cybercrime in 2023. By 2025, that number is expected to grow to $10.5 trillion. The most successful scams are the most deceptive, and anyone can fall prey to a scam that puts your information at risk.
Your information security is no small matter, and that’s why we make it a priority here at SouthEast Bank. New and creative cybersecurity threats arise daily, so it’s critical to be well-versed in promising safety practices. Here are some tips to help you stay vigilant with your information.
First, What Is Cybersecurity?
In essence, cybersecurity is exactly what it sounds like: a defense built against unauthorized access and criminal use of data, including your personal and financial information.
Individuals can put a number of cybersecurity measures in place to help protect their data. The more complex the data being held, the greater the cybersecurity measures should be, which is why businesses, institutions, and government systems employ such high cybersecurity standards.
Often, however, these basic guidelines are enough to help everyday internet users begin to identify threats to their cybersecurity:
- Be skeptical of offers or deals that seem “too good to be true”
- Always stop and think before clicking on a link or downloading unexpected attachments.
- Use extra caution when handling financial information.
Ready for a few more specific tips?
Six Tips to Increase Your Cybersecurity
1. Use unique passwords
Strong passwords are the first line of defense for your data, so you should make every password you use complex and unique. Scammers know how common it is to use “password” or “1234” because people often opt for simpler passwords they can remember. This adds up to why 30% of online users have been victims of security breaches because of weak passwords. If you use the same password across multiple applications, the breach can have a far-reaching effect.
Instead, a strong password uses a combination of numbers, letters, and special characters. If you need help creating and remembering many different or Google-suggested passwords, you can use a trusted password manager to help keep them straight.
2. Use two-factor authorization
Two-factor authentication (2FA) provides an extra layer of security for your personal information by requiring an additional form of verifying your identity in addition to simply providing a password. This second step can be a fingerprint ID, face ID, or security code sent via text, email, phone call, or through a secure app.
Just like passwords, 2FA is not guaranteed to secure your accounts from cybersecurity threats. However, it is quickly becoming a required means of securing accounts of all kinds.
3. Keep your devices up-to-date
Downloading software updates may feel tedious, but they’re important for the purpose of cybersecurity. These updates not only increase functionality but also patch vulnerabilities that the makers of your device have identified. By ensuring you regularly do software updates across all of your devices, you help to avoid common potential risks in the future.
4. Be cautious on unfamiliar networks
When you’re using wifi at a hotel or coffee shop, you may be connecting to a network that is unsecured. This means that the network lacks cybersecurity defenses, and your connection is more vulnerable to malware, hacking, or a data breach. Avoid using unfamiliar wifi networks to do tasks that might be sensitive.
5. Regularly back up your data
Backing up your data to a trusted cloud storage system, external hard drive, or flash drive is a good habit to have for many reasons. If, for some reason, you damage or lose your personal device, then you do not necessarily lose all the information you have stored on it. This also creates a barrier between potential cybersecurity threats and your more sensitive personal records. If worst case scenario, your device was to be hacked, your backed-up data is your fastest way to recover what’s important to you.
For optimal information security, it’s recommended that you have two different kinds of backup and keep them separate from your main systems.
6. Stay educated about common scams and breaches
One of the best ways to maintain your cybersecurity efforts is to know what to look out for. Common cyberattacks and mass data breaches often make the news, and common software and platforms will typically keep their customers up-to-date on security topics. Educate yourself and others around you, especially those you often share networks or information with, to be proactive with your cybersecurity.
A Note for SouthEast Bank Customers
When you choose to use SouthEast Bank, we may contact you by phone, text, or email, depending on your preferences. However, we will never initiate a conversation by asking for personal information such as your account number, pin, or password. If you are unsure of the source of anyone claiming to represent SouthEast Bank, please contact 1-844-SEBANKS (732-2657). The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can help protect you and other customers from potential scams.
Final Considerations: Why Is Cybersecurity Important?
There is no such thing as “perfect” security. That is because cyberattacks are continuously changing, and so cybersecurity measures must evolve to help protect potential victims. You do yourself and your loved ones a favor when you take proactive measures to keep your data safe. By implementing some of the tactics we’ve listed and by staying current on common security threats, you make it that much harder for your information to fall into the wrong hands.
