Cybercriminals are swift and sophisticated, not to mention downright brilliant when it comes to prying personal information from the most unsuspecting victims. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recommends that individuals and families remain on the defense while online and keep their computer systems, software, and antivirus programs up to date to avoid becoming the unfortunate victim of cybercrime. However, a strong antivirus program is not guaranteed protection, which is why the FBI and other top internet security companies encourage families to follow these additional cyber safety measures.
- Scrutinize every email in your inbox, including the sender’s email address and any URLs found within. Cybercriminals tend to mimic legitimate sites and email addresses in their attempts to lure you in. Often, the only difference is a slight variation in spelling—for example, info@morseinsure.com instead of the correct email, info@morseins.com.
- Never open, click, or download any email attachments unless you expect a file or document, such as an invoice, from someone and have verified the sender’s email address.
- Carefully examine all requests for a payment or transfer of funds. This is particularly important if you are buying or selling a home.
- Be on guard of any messages that urge immediate action. This is a common tactic by most scammers.
- Use unique passwords for every online account. You should consider using a password that includes upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Secure your smart home gadgets, like doorbells, speakers, and cameras with two-factor authentication.
- Shop securely online. Never enter your credit card or personal information on a site that is not secure. Secure websites generally begin with https://.
- Never divulge personal information, usernames, or passwords via email with a third party.
Add an Extra Layer of Protection with Personal Cyber Insurance Coverage.
Unfortunately, cybercrime is on the rise; some of the most common threats are identity fraud, theft, and data breaches. Despite following internet safety measures to the letter, you may experience a financial loss at the hands of a cybercriminal. A typical home insurance policy does provide a limited amount of personal protection from cybercrime, but usually not enough to help you recover from an attack. Which is why Morse, of course, encourages all homeowners to consider the peace of mind and financial coverage a personal cyber insurance policy may offer.
Most standard cyber insurance policies provide financial protection if you were to experience a loss because of identity theft, data breach, cyber extortion, ransomware, and cyberbullying on one of your internet-enabled devices while using your personal network.
Morse, of course, can help you add an extra layer of protection with a personal cyber insurance policy. Our dedicated team will help you find the best coverage at the best rate and ensure that the coverages are tailored to your exact needs. For more information on what a personal cyber insurance policy is and what it can protect you from, head over to our Personal Cyber Insurance page.