October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month—a good reminder that protecting your personal and financial information is an everyday habit, especially when you’re using your phone or other devices while you’re on the go. Your smartphone can hold a lot of sensitive information, including account details, passwords, emails, photos and other personal information. A few simple precautions can help reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

Lock It Like You Mean It

Start with the basics: protect your phone with a strong passcode, PIN, fingerprint or facial recognition, and set your device to lock automatically when you’re not using it. A locked device can make it more difficult for someone who finds or takes your phone to access the information stored on it. Whenever possible, use multi-factor authentication for accounts that offer it. This provides an additional layer of protection beyond your password.

Turn On Alerts for Peace of Mind

Account alerts can help you keep an eye on activity. Depending on the account or service, you may be able to receive notifications about transactions, login attempts or other account activity. Take a moment to review the alerts available for your financial and other important accounts. If you receive an alert for activity you don't recognize, don't ignore it. Contact the financial institution or company using a phone number or website you know is legitimate.

Keep Apps and Software Updated

Those reminders to update your phone, apps or computer may be easy to put off, but updates often include important security fixes. Turn on automatic updates when available, and keep your operating system, apps, internet browser and security software current.

Be Smart on Public Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi at an airport, hotel, coffee shop or other public location can be convenient, but it's still important to be careful about what you do while connected. Before entering sensitive information, make sure you're using a legitimate website or app. Look for https in your browser when using a website, and avoid connecting to unfamiliar networks. Don't assume that a network is trustworthy simply because it has a familiar name. When possible, use a trusted network or your mobile connection for activities involving sensitive information.

Prepare for the “Just in Case” Moment

Losing your phone can be stressful, but planning ahead can make the situation easier to manage.

Take a few minutes to:

Turn on your device's Find My or equivalent device-location feature.
Learn how to remotely lock your device if it is lost.
Know how to remotely erase your device if necessary.
Back up important information regularly.
Keep important phone numbers somewhere other than your phone so you can access them if your device is unavailable.

Stay Alert to Scams, Too

Cybersecurity isn't only about protecting your device. Be cautious with unexpected texts, emails, phone calls and messages asking for personal or financial information. Scammers may create a sense of urgency to pressure you into clicking a link, sharing information or sending money.

If something doesn't seem right, stop and verify the request independently. Don't use the contact information provided in a suspicious message. Instead, contact the company or financial institution through a phone number, website or app you know is legitimate.

A Few Minutes Now Can Make a Difference

You don't have to be a cybersecurity expert to take meaningful steps to protect your information. Lock your devices, keep your software updated, use available security features and stay alert to unexpected requests.

Peake Federal Credit Union is committed to helping members protect their financial information. Visit our fraud prevention page and learn about the latest scams and valuable tips to keep your money and information safe. If you have questions about your account or notice activity you don't recognize, contact us at 410.828.4730, 800.234.4730, or memberservices@peakefederal.com.

Don’t Let Hackers Hitch a Ride