Data Privacy Tips You Need Today

In today’s digital landscape, protecting your personal information has become more important than ever. According to studies, the average cost of data breaches increases 10% year-over-year. The most recent report totaled $4.88 million per data breach.

Data Privacy Day serves as a timely reminder for individuals and organizations to safeguard sensitive data and take proactive steps to maintain privacy in an increasingly connected world. At BankSouth, your security is our priority. While we make use of robust measures to protect your information, there are additional actions you can take to strengthen your privacy and security.

This article outlines five essential steps to enhance your digital safety and safeguard your personal information effectively.

5 Ways to Safeguard Your Personal Information

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is one of the most effective ways to secure your accounts. By requiring a secondary form of verification, such as a code sent to your mobile device or generated by an authenticator app, 2FA ensures that even if your password is compromised, your account remains protected.

Set Up Transaction Alerts

Monitoring your account activity is a proactive way to detect unusual or unauthorized transactions quickly. Transaction alerts notify you of account activity, ensuring you stay informed and can act promptly if needed.

Set up transaction alerts through the BankSouth Mobile App or Online Banking.

Avoid Suspicious Links and Phishing Scams

Phishing scams often come disguised as legitimate communications from trusted organizations. These scams attempt to trick you into sharing sensitive information like passwords or credit card details. The MGM Resorts hack of 2023 was reported to have been caused by phishing, and cost MGM Resorts over $100 million.

• Verify the sender’s email address and avoid clicking on unsolicited links.
• Look for signs of phishing, such as generic greetings, grammatical errors, or urgent requests.

Avoid Unknown or Suspicious Phone Calls

Scammers often pose as trusted entities over the phone, pressuring individuals into sharing personal information. Staying vigilant and recognizing these tactics can prevent you from falling victim to phone scams.

Practical Advice:

• Do not answer calls from unknown numbers. Let them go to voicemail.
• Be cautious of callers requesting sensitive information, even if they claim to be from a legitimate organization.
• If there is ever ANY doubt – Hang up and call the organization back on a trusted phone number.

Regularly Update Your Passwords

Strong, unique passwords are a cornerstone of online security. Regularly updating your passwords and avoiding reuse across platforms minimizes the risk of unauthorized access.

Use a password manager to generate and securely store complex passwords. Combine uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters for maximum strength.

Your privacy and security are paramount in the digital world. By implementing these five steps—enabling 2FA, setting up transaction alerts, avoiding suspicious links, recognizing phone scams, and updating your passwords—you can significantly enhance your digital safety.

At BankSouth, we are committed to protecting your information and empowering you with the tools and knowledge to stay secure. Together, we can navigate the digital world safely and confidently.

Data source:

https://securityintelligence.com/articles/2024-roundup-top-data-breach-stories-and-industry-trends/

https://blog.1password.com/mgm-hack/

https://www.securityweek.com/mgm-resorts-says-ransomware-hack-cost-110-million/