Signal Fall 2022 Newsletter

8 www.alliancecom.net Your Personally Identifiable Information, known as PII, can include your name, physical home address, email address, telephone numbers, date of birth, marital status, Social Security numbers, medical status, family members, employment, and education. All this data, whether lost in different data breaches or stolen through cyberattacks, can provide attackers with enough infor- mation to conduct identity theft. Hackers can take out loans using your name. They also can compromise online accounts that rely on security questions being answered correctly. In the wrong hands, this infor- mation can be a gold mine for advertisers lacking a moral backbone. Passwords are the problem Additionally, the average user has about 26 password-protected accounts but only has five different passwords across these accounts. That makes us more susceptible to hacks, especially brute force attacks. More than 85 percent of Americans keep track of online passwords by memorizing them. It’s nearly impossible to memorize up to 26 passwords, which is why you should consider installing a password management program. However, a shock- ing low 12 percent of Americans actually have one installed. Here’s a high-level summary of what you should do to keep your personal informa- tion away from hackers: Protecting Computers and Laptops • Make sure your security software is up to date. • Install antivirus and anti-malware software. • Disable connections when you aren’t using them. Protecting Cell Phones • Create a strong PIN or passcode. • Only install trusted applications. • Keep your software up to date. Protecting Other Internet-Connected Devices • Review your network and device names. • Create unique passwords for all devices. Protecting Online Accounts • Delete suspicious emails. • Use secure devices. • Create strong passwords. • Use multifactor authentication on your accounts. • Sign up for account alerts. If Your Device or Online Accounts are Hacked • Have devices inspected. • Change your passwords. • Monitor financial accounts. • Notify others. • Watch out for other users. Let ProtectIQ™ from Alliance Be Your Defender With ProtectIQ, you will receive the internet security you need to keep your personal information away from hack- ers 24×7. ProtectIQ is a network-level security application that works quietly in the background of our GigaBlast Wi-Fi routers. We’ll proactively keep malicious websites, viruses, and intrusion away from your home around the clock. The GigaBlast router with ProtectIQ security is automatically included in our UltimateWhole HomeWi-Fi package. Start protecting yourWi-Fi network today by switching to this powerful Wi-Fi plan. Just call us at (605) 582-6311 or visit alliancecom.net/whole-home-wi-fi to learn more. Keep Your Personal Information Away FromHackers 24×7 These tips and tools offer valuable protection Everything from your web browsing to the smart devices installed in your home has the potential to erode your privacy and personal security. You must do whatever you can to keep your personal information away from hackers.