6 Ways To Protect Your Accounts From Cybercriminals

Hackers and identity thieves keep coming up with schemes to gain access to your financial accounts. Don’t make it easy for them. These tips can help you safeguard your accounts:

Sign Up for Online Access

Creating an online account ensures you register and claim your information, so criminals don’t. Be sure to review your accounts regularly for any suspicious or unfamiliar activity. Unregistered or unclaimed online accounts are especially vulnerable to fraud and unauthorized access.

Create Strong Passwords

Passwords should be at least 12 characters and composed of numbers, symbols, uppercase letters, and lowercase letters. Each account should have a unique password for optimal security.

Use Two Forms of Authentication

This adds an extra layer of protection by requiring two forms of identification to access your account: something you know (like a password) and something you have (such as a code). This code can be delivered via email, text message, or — preferably — generated by an authenticator app like Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator, or Duo Mobile. Using an authenticator app is generally more secure than SMS or email, as it’s less likely to be intercepted or used for phishing.

Check Your Credit Reports

Periodically review your credit reports to spot any suspicious activity. You can get a free copy of your report yearly from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — at AnnualCreditReport.com. Dispute any questionable entries or errors, especially unauthorized hard inquiries or inaccurate account information, by contacting the credit bureau directly.

Freeze Your Credit Reports

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit reports, making it difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name, since most creditors require a credit check before approving new credit. This does not affect your credit score and can be lifted temporarily or permanently when needed. To initiate a freeze, you must contact each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — individually. You’ll also need to contact them again to lift the freeze when applying for credit. For added protection,consider freezing the credit of your minor children or other dependents who are not actively using credit. This helps prevent fraudulent accounts from being opened in their names.

Be Skeptical

Criminals often send emails or texts that appear to be from legitimate sources and contain links or attachments. Clicking on a link or opening an attachment can allow a criminal to steal your login credentials or download malware onto your computer or phone. Verify the authenticity of the message by directly contacting the legitimate source.

Bonus Tip: Avoid clicking the “unsubscribe” link in suspicious emails.

While it might seem like a quick way to stop unwanted messages, scammers often use fake unsubscribe buttons to confirm your email is active — or worse, to trick you into clicking a malicious link. If you don’t recognize the sender, it’s safer to delete the email or mark it as spam instead.

MissionSquare’s Security Guarantee

Your MissionSquare accounts are protected by our security guarantee. If your accounts suffer losses as a result of unauthorized activity through no fault of your own, MissionSquare will reimburse you.