These days, so much of life is lived online. We shop, order food, stay in touch with family and friends, and pay bills online. Whether it’s social media or banking, it’s important to be sure your online accounts are safe and secure. Here at Woodlawn Cemetery, our professional staff knows the importance of staying safe while navigating the digital world. We advise our neighbors across the New York area to keep digital security in mind at all times.

Here are a few quick and easy ways to make sure your online accounts are safe.

Update your passwords.

If you worry some of your online accounts might have been hacked, select a new password for each one. To allow for even more security, be sure to select a strong, unique password that includes numbers and symbols. It’s a good idea to select a new password for each separate account. Use a password manager to keep track of all your various passwords. A password manager will let you know when a new password you create is weak and should be changed to enhance security.

Consider paying for a VPN (virtual private network).

Online advertisers and companies track everyone’s movements online. Installing a VPN on your computer or mobile device hides your IP address from third parties and potential hackers. Even while using public WiFi, having a VPN installed makes it trickier to steal your data.

Install anti-virus software on your computer.

Several years ago, computer viruses were commonplace. Though they’re not as prevalent now, installing anti-virus software can help protect you from harmful pop-ups and dangerous links that might put your computer at risk.

Sign up for fraud alerts with your bank.

This is one of the easiest ways to stay on top of suspicious online activity involving money and bank accounts. Most banks will alert you with a text message or notification on your smartphone if a suspiciously large purchase is made or account activity is spotted as originating from another country.

Though it may seem intimidating, protecting your online accounts is fairly easy if you take the time to research and ask questions. We encourage our neighbors in the Bronx to do their best to protect their personal data online and help others do the same.