Nine Tips to Staying Secure Online

31 May Nine Tips to Staying Secure Online

We have all said it at one point – “It won’t happen to me”.  Truthfully, any time we use the computer and internet, there is the potential risk of getting hacked or procuring a virus. It can happen to anyone, and the stakes are high to both your personal and financial well-being. One of the most important ways you can help your business is by practicing online safety and taking measures to keep your sensitive information secure. Below are nine tips to keeping yourself and your employees safe on the world wide web:

1. 1. 1. Store your passwords in a secure manner. Do not leave them sitting on the desk or on a sticky-note on the monitor. Refrain from sharing passwords unless it is absolutely necessary, and try not to reuse passwords to important services. Try saving passwords on a paper in a locked drawer. It is also recommended to update passwords every 90 days or so.
      2. For our clients who use Evolution and TimeWorks, do not keep those windows open on your desktop. Practice this with not only your payroll and timekeeping programs, but with any social media, email or other personal accounts. If you leave your desk, exit the program or lock your screen. If you keep sensitive information on a flash drive or external hard drive, make sure to keep those locked up as well.
      3. Keep sensitive data (e.g., SSN’s, credit card information, student records, health information, etc.) off of your workstation, laptop, or mobile devices. Storing personal information on a mobile device could leave you vulnerable if anyone was to open your phone or hack into it.
      4. Payroll Partners also recommends that sensitive information, such as W4 information, bank accounts, SSN, etc… be sent to your payroll processor through our secure file transfer.
      5. Only install an anti-virus program from a known and trusted source.  Keep virus definitions, engines and software up to date to ensure your anti-virus program remains effective.
      6. Back up on a regular basis – if you are a victim of a security breach, the only guaranteed way to repair your computer is to erase and re-install the programs.
      7. If attachments or links in emails are unexpected or suspicious for any reason, don’t click on them.
      8. Avoid visiting unknown websites or downloading software from untrusted sources.  These sites often host malware that will automatically, and often silently, compromise your computer.
      9. If you see any unusual payroll activity, please bring it to the attention of your payroll processor. Do not be afraid to ask questions or seek out answers. We care about protecting your business and personal information, so we will help you protect your payroll information as best as we can.

April Reeves, Social Media Editor