Cyber Safety During Global Conflicts - Money Tip Tuesday

When global conflicts arise, it’s especially important to be vigilant and watchful over your data and personal information. Conflicts bring about new security threats and dangers, but fortunately you can take steps to stay safe even during unpredictable times. 

• https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2022/02/25/russia-ukraine-staying-secure-in-a-global-cyber-conflict/ 
• https://blog.knowbe4.com/wartime-suffering-as-phishbait 
• Report scams to the US government at this page: https://www.usa.gov/stop-scams-frauds 

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Transcript:

Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast.  

Recently, the Data Services department at Triangle sent out a notice reminding staff of the dangers that can come from a global crisis.  

Jose, Vice President of Data Services shared, “As the world watches the events happening in Ukraine, news of Russia’s army of computer hackers has become the next threat. In particular, against Australia, Russia’s leadership has voiced to hack Australia’s computer networks. The Australian Cyber Security Centre site has a list of proactive cyber security measures for businesses and government agencies to evaluate and deploy controls to protect data and their networks. The United States must remain alert as well because cyber threats are global. 

Even if you haven’t seen evidence yet of any attacks, you should remain on high-alert for suspicious emails carrying harmful viruses or suspicious websites asking for personal information.”  

Triangle’s staff makes data security a top priority. But you also must take steps to protect yourself due to the potential rise in global cybercrime. 

Remember to keep a watchful eye out for potential threats that could include malware and ransomware.  

Make it a priority to safeguard your devices by keeping them up to date, setting security measures like Multi Factor Authentication with strong passwords, and making full use of antivirus apps that can flag and block ransomware attempts.  

When it comes to phishing scams, stay alert for deceiving emails, texts, or phone calls, that might look or sound like legitimate news sites sharing updates, or charities asking you to donate to relief efforts. 

To avoid getting scammed, make sure you set up any spam filters and use attachment scanners to avoid these and other types of email threats.  

Here’s a quick list of 5 other good habits to get into to protect yourself against cyber-attacks:  

• Use antivirus protection software to keep yourself safe when going online. Make sure it’s enabled and check in occasionally to run scans and confirm that your device is protected. 
• If you suspect an email to be malicious, do NOT open it, do not reply to it a d do open any attachments or click links. You can report suspicious emails and scams to the US government for investigation. Visit usa.gov to learn more about how and where to report.   

• It’s good practice to log out of any applications or online accounts when you are not using them. 
• Don’t forget about your phone. It can also be at risk. Be careful when you install apps and make sure you trust the app developer before you download any. 
• And, remember, do not share your passwords or personal information. 

If you want to learn more about cyber threats and how to best protect yourself, check the show notes for links to additional resources. 

If there are any other tips or topics you’d like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org and don't forget to like and follow our Making Money Personal FB page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on Instagram and LinkedIn to share your thoughts.  

Thanks for listening to today’s Money Tip Tuesday and be sure to check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.  

Have a great day!