Consumers aren’t the only ones at risk of online fraud. From recent data breaches at major retailers to increasing incidents of fraudulent emails, businesses are increasingly at risk of email and online fraud.  Many online safety precautions that apply to consumers can also protect businesses.



At the same time, it’s important for businesses to have a company-wide security plan in place to ensure employees help protect sensitive company data. Companies with dedicated IT departments work hard to protect their sensitive data and have probably taken all the necessary precautions.  If you own or manage a small business without the safety net of IT personnel, here are best practices that will help protect your information:


1. Keep Financial Data Separate:

For business users in particular, use a dedicated work station to perform all company banking activity. Use other computers to access the Internet and conduct non-banking business. When it’s time to retire the computer that was used to access company banking, be sure to back up all sensitive information  and erase the hard drive before recycling it.


2. Know Who’s Asking

As a general rule of thumb, banks don’t send emails or text messages that ask for personal information such as account and/or social security numbers.  Banks will also not require you to verify account information in this manner.  Never share any personal information, especially social security or tax ID numbers, account numbers, or login and password information via email or text. 


3. Keep Your Passwords Secret

Do not share passwords and do not leave any documents that contain access to financial data in an unsecured area.  Change your passwords regularly for better protection, using a combination of letters, numbers and special characters when possible. Change your wireless network default password as well as the default SSID (name used to identify your network). 


4. No Phishing Allowed

Beware of phishing emails. These emails are designed to prompt you to click links provided within the email to verify or change your account in some way.  Often, the links included in the email are ways for fraudsters to install malicious software (also called Malware) onto the computer or device you use to access your email.  This Malware can be used to obtain personal information. 


5. Protect Your Computer

With cyber attacks on the rise, it’s more important than ever to install antivirus software on your computer or network. Equally important is ensuring you are regularly running and updating this software to prevent viruses from infecting your computer.

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