3 Ways to Protect Yourself Online

By: Raghu Valipireddy , Senior Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer, Axos Bank

Over 90% of data breaches in 2022 were cyberattacks – and it’s only June. In today’s digital-driven world, protecting your personal and professional information should be part of your online routine. But knowing how to identify suspicious activity is only half the battle.

Cement your protective routine with these three easy ways to avoid being vulnerable to hackers.

1.???Set Reminders for Routine Data Checks?

Assuming your information is safe won’t cut it these days.

Instead, use free tools like Have I Been Pwned to check whether any of your accounts have been compromised by a breach that unintentionally exposed data to the public. You can then respond with their suggested actions such as changing your passwords and using multi-factor authentication (MFA).

The site also allows you to set up breach notifications, so you will know right away if any of your accounts are compromised down the line.?

2.???Create Smarter and Stronger Passwords

Whether you use the same password for every account or different variations of that password, you’re an easy target for hackers.

The most secure passwords are long, unique, and easy to remember . A password like “123qwe890iop” is not as random as you might think because the keys are close to each other on your keyboard. The site passwordmonster.com warns “123qwe890iop” could be hacked in just five hours. Meanwhile, “ShopaholicButNotActually” would take 52,000 years.

Struggling to remember every single username and password? That’s where a password manager can be helpful. This tool acts as a digital vault for your passwords on a secure, encrypted server – and is accessible through browsers and apps – so you can avoid manually saving your information on something unsecure, like a sticky note or the Notes app.?

3.???Keep Your Accounts Secure

Establishing your online data security is about working smarter, not harder. That’s where multi-factor authentication (MFA) comes in. MFA requires users to present at least two types of identity authentication. Methods of verification include codes via text message, authenticator apps, and Face ID. These roadblocks mean that even if your password becomes compromised, it’s much more difficult for a hacker to get past a second authentication barrier.

Make sure to use MFA on your password manager, and any other accounts or apps with MFA available, to make hacking harder for cybercriminals. It is especially important that you protect your financial information by setting up MFA for your bank logins and apps.

The Bottom Line

Creating a routine of online data protection takes a little commitment but can be simplified with reminders and free tools. For more information and tips on how to protect yourself online, visit our Security Center .