Cyber Security: Reduce Your Risk (Lakeside Chat 5-15-24)

In today's digital world, protecting your personal information online is more critical than ever. It's essential to be proactive in protecting your online presence and reducing risks of falling prey to scams or other risks. In our latest Lakeside Chat we explore practical tips and strategies to help you be safer in the digital world. 

Hear from LPL’s Investor Security Team on best practices for cyber security to reduce risks and stay safe – as well as to learn what we and LPL do to help safeguard your information. 

Our speaker was Mike Terry, who is a Sr. Analyst on the Advisor Security Team and who has been with LPL for nearly 8 years.  In his current role, Mike educates advisors and their investors about cybersecurity; keeping them #LPLprotected with best practices to stay safe, protect sensitive information, and avoid cyber-threats.

Watch the hour long recorded session below, and use these 10 tips, as well as the guide to a stronger password, from the presentation to help guide you so you can stay safe and reduce risk online. 

Cybersecurity Lakeside Chat Top 10 Tips 

1. Remove old/unused apps from phones.
2. Keep up-to-date on updates (phones, computers, tablets, etc.).
3. Use a Password Manager app to help track & create strong passwords.
4. The length of a password is critical in preventing hackers from accessing private data (see graphic/table below).
5. Avoid public Wi-Fi!
6. Before traveling, look-up local scams of the area(s) that will be visited.
7. If unsure about a suspicious text, email or call – stop and do some research – then contact them directly using publicized contact methods. And ask a trusted family member/friend/advisor if doubts still persist.
8. Don’t click on links or attachments in emails or texts unless (1) it's from a known source and (2) it’s expected.
9. PCMag.com is a good resource for software information and password managers.
10. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA or 2FA) whenever possible.
     

     Is your password strong enough?

    How long would it take hackers to compromise your password?

    # of Characters	Numbers Only	Lowercase Letters	Upper & Lowercase Letters	Numbers, Upper & Lowercase Letters	Numbers, Upper & Lowercase Letters, Symbols
    4	Instantly	Instantly	Instantly	Instantly	Instantly
    6	Instantly	Instantly	Instantly	Instantly	Instantly
    8	Instantly	Instantly	28 seconds	2 minutes	5 minutes
    10	Instantly	1 minute	21 hours	5 days	2 weeks
    12	1 second	14 hours	6 years	53 years	226 years
    14	52 seconds	1 year	17 thousand years	202 thousand years	1 million years
    16	1 hours	713 years	46 million years	779 million years	5 billion years
    18	6 days	481 thousand years	126 billion years	2 trillion years	26 trillion years

Watch the full recording below:

Download the slides from this presentation (PowerPoint)

Our Lakeside Chats were started in Spring 2020 to help us feel more connected. Think casual conversation about a wide range of topics. Imagine an online video version of a regular backyard (or front porch) get-together with friends and neighbors. For each Lakeside Chat, a different guest leads the conversation about their area of expertise, their passionate hobby.