Each year millions of people get their personal information stolen online. Hackers and other criminals are always a step ahead of law enforcement. However, there are some things that you can do to help protect yourself online. Below we will learn some tips that can help protect your financial information.

Don’t Leave Your Password Laying Around

This is a common mistake that many people make. They will write down their banking passwords and leave it next to their computer. This is never a good idea! Anyone that comes into your home or office can access your account. Instead, keep your passwords in a secure location that only you know about, or use safe, online password management tools.

Update Your Passwords Regularly

We are all guilty of using a password over and over again. It can be hard to remember so many different passwords, however always using the same one could make it easy for someone to compromise your information. Instead, make sure you change your password at least once a month. This will protect your accounts and keep you safe. If you have trouble remembering passwords, you can use a secure password manager to store all of your passwords.

Only Use Secure Internet Connections

Do you log in to the Wi-Fi at your local coffee shop? How about when you go to the mall? Do you use their free hotspot? If so, you could be putting yourself at risk! Only use a secure internet connection to log in to your bank account, or opt for using your cellphone’s data. If you do a lot of traveling, you may want to invest in a personal Wi-Fi on the go device. These devices will give you secure access to the internet and they only cost a few hundred dollars. 

Monitor Your Accounts Everyday

Every morning when you wake up, you probably check your email. When doing so, you should also verify all of your financial accounts. By monitoring your accounts every day you will be able to spot any strange activity quickly. You can also set up alerts in your account that will alert you when money has been transferred out of your bank. Many banks offer this service free of charge.

Shred Unwanted Personal Information

Do you have a lot of bank statements and other personal information just sitting around? If so, you should destroy it instead of simply throwing in the recycling bin. Shred them before tossing them out. This will make it impossible for your personal information to be read by anyone.

These tips will help protect your financial information online. Remember to never use public Wi-Fi, and always monitor your accounts daily. Doing so will help protect your identity.