Vermont Bar Journal, Vol. 40, No. 2 Vermont Bar Journal, Fall 2017, Vol. 48, No. 3 | Page 20

by Mike Servidio, TCI Technology Consultants, Inc.
TECH TIPS
Nine Steps To Take Now To Be Certain Your Finances Are Protected Online
It seems like we’ve been inundated over
the past 6 months with rampant cybertheft.
Target, Nieman Marcus, Yahoo and even
Equifax. Unfortunately, in the world we live
in, this is most likely the norm going for-
ward and not just a blip on the radar. So,
how can you stay protected online? While
there is no way to absolutely, positively,
100% stay safe online, by taking these 9
steps, you will be as safe as possible.
1. Only Shop On Secure Websites. Be-
fore you type your credit card into a
website, ensure it is secure. Look for
“https://” in the address bar of your
web browser when you are checking
out. You should also see a lock in the
address bar of your browser.
2. Avoid Financial Transactions Over
Public Wifi. You can’t guarantee that
free or shared WiFi access is secure.
Ok to connect for browsing the web,
but avoid financial transactions on
these connections.
3. Use A Secure Network For Financial
Transactions. Protect your computer
with a firewall, antivirus and anti-spy-
ware software.
4. Setup Banking Alerts For Unusual Or
Large Transactions. Ask your bank to
notify you of any suspicious or large
transactions.
5. Use Credit Cards Instead Of Debit
Cards. Most credit cards offer better
fraud protection, plus if money is sto-
len from a debit card, then it has al-
ready left your bank account.
6. Pick Complex Passwords. Use phrase
acronyms and keyboard combina-
tions. Never use repeat passwords or
words in the dictionary for your finan-
cial accounts.
7. Never Directly Answer Or Respond
To An Email From Your Bank. Crimi-
nals have become very adept at ap-
pearing that they are a financial insti-
tution when they are not. Never rely
on links in emails to access your finan-
cial accounts.
8. Install Available Security Updates
On Your Computer, SmartPhone and
Tablets. Many cybercrimes target
known security holes on your com-
puting devices. Stay up to date to
stay secure.
9. Check Your Bank Balances And State-
ments Regularly. Good ole-fashioned
visual checks on your balances and a
scan of your transactions are the best
practice to be sure that nothing has
slipped through the cracks.
BATTLE OF WITS!
Last contest, Brent Clayton outwitted us all with his “s’more billable hours” campfire caption. Members are invited to bring forth
their truly dizzying intellect and join the battle of wits! Montpelier cartoon artist (and lawyer) Kathy Fechter has once again graciously
provided us the above cartoon for our fierce competition. Submit your proposed caption to the above ‘judge’s leap’ cartoon to jeb@
vtbar.org. The deadline to submit your caption is December 1, 2017.
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THE VERMONT BAR JOURNAL • FALL 2017
www.vtbar.org