(NAPSI)—Learning you’ve been hacked can be a bummer. Luckily, Allstate believes your online information is just as important as your home or car. To help you learn more about managing your digital footprint, visit HiddenWorldOfData.allstate.com, which is a hub of educational resources. You can learn more about where your data goes and how to better manage your data privacy and prevent any negative missteps. So whether you’ve been hacked or just want to take the right steps to prevent it from happening, Allstate has your back.
1. Don’t panic! Protecting your personal online data is equally important as your car or home. Having a plan in case you’re hacked can help limit what a thief might do with your information and potentially alleviate damage.
2. Say something. If you fear your banking information may be compromised, call and change your mobile banking passwords. While things are settling, unlink your bank account and card information from places like Venmo and PayPal. If your Social Security number is involved, contact the fraud department at any of the three credit-reporting agencies and check credit reports for any suspicious activity.
Lastly, let close contacts know you were hacked so they can avoid clicking on links that might come from you and not fall victim to something similar.
3. Be unique. Reality check: Life would be easier if we only needed to remember one password. But using the same password for multiple accounts can put you at greater risk of having information stolen. Defend your accounts with strong passwords (use upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters—go crazy!) and ensure each password you have is unique to that program or app. A great password manager can take the stress out of remembering a million different passwords!
4. Ask yourself how. It’s hard to understand why you were targeted but once you understand how hackers gain control of accounts and get personal information, you’ll get why Allstate wants you to prioritize protecting your digital footprint. Here are some actions that can potentially put your data at risk:
• Password reuse
• Downloading malware
• Using public Wi-Fi
• Phishing scams.
5. Protect your phone with more than just a case. Cell phones are crazy convenient—but they also store a lot of highly sensitive information, becoming a prime target for hackers. It’s beneficial to take the time to add a passcode and touch ID to your phone. Keep your phone and apps updated to account for security upgrades from developers, and give only trusted apps access to your location, calendar, photos, etc.
6. Learn savvy security measures. Good news—there’s so much you can do to help secure your digital footprint from fraudsters!
• Add two-factor authentication.
• Review your login activity for your e-mail service.
• Use a password manager.
• Make sure your phone has a passcode or set up touch ID.
• Review which permissions you give each app. For example, do your social media apps need your location?
Be sure to check out Allstate’s hiddenworldofdata.allstate.com to learn more about your digital footprint and how to keep information secure.
