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June is National Internet Safety Month

June 15th, 2023

June is National Internet Safety Month! Here are a few tips from TopLine’s VP & Chief Compliance Officer, Carla, to help you and your loved ones stay safe on the web! 

Security Question Fishing
If you see posts on social media posed as innocent, fun, did you know questions like “Can you remember the name of street you grew up on?” or “Who was your favorite teacher in school?” hesitate on answering these questions publicly in the comments. Scammers could be fishing for security questions. 

Here are more examples found on Facebook:

  • “Who’s the oldest one here? Comment your birth year in the comments!”
  • “What’s your Bridgerton name?"
    •  1. Lord or Lady
    •  2. Your Middle Name
    • 3. Add “ton” to the name of your pet
    •  4. “of” 
    • 5. Your car’s model 
  • “Can you remember the name of your first-grade teacher?”
  • “Attention dog lovers! What was the name and breed of your first fur baby?!”

Click here for more information on social media safety.

Password Tips
Having a strong password is one of the first steps to keeping your accounts safe. Here are three tips to create strong passwords:

  1. Don’t use the same password for each account. If someone discovers your password for one account, all your other accounts will be vulnerable.
  2. Increase password length and simplicity – Keep passwords simple, long, and memorable since longer passwords are harder for hackers to hack.
  3. Never use personal information such as your name, birthday, username, or email address. This type of information is often publicly available, which makes it easier for someone to guess your password.

Email Phishing
Phishing attacks aim to deceive individuals into divulging sensitive information like login credentials, credit card numbers, or personal data. To protect against email phishing, it’s essential to be cautious when interacting with unsolicited emails, verify the authenticity of email senders, avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments, and regularly update security software.

Kids Online Safety
Keeping kids safe online is important. Here are some quick safety tips for kids:

  • Avoid Malware – play online games only when you have effective security software and your computer’s firewall is activated.
  • Don’t talk to strangers – Only follow friends or people you know and don’t accept random stranger friend requests. If anyone asks for Personally Identifiable Information (PII) such as your name, birth date, Social Security number, or even about hobbies and interests don’t respond. If they ask you for money don’t give it to them no matter the reason.
  • Report anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. If someone is making you uncomfortable or hurting your feelings via social media, report it to your parents.

To learn more and stay up to date on the latest scams, visit the Fraud Prevention page on TopLine’s website to learn more.