Secure Your Devices & Accounts

Use a dedicated device – If possible, use a separate laptop or phone only for banking and investments.
Enable full-disk encryption – Use BitLocker (Windows) or FileVault (Mac) to encrypt all data.
Create a separate email for banking – Use a unique, private email (ProtonMail or Tutanota) for financial accounts only.
Use a physical security key – YubiKey or Google Titan Security Key instead of SMS for 2FA.

Strengthen Online Banking Security

Always use the official banking app – Never log in via email links; type the URL manually.
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) – Prefer app-based 2FA (Authy, Aegis) over SMS.
Activate account alerts – Get real-time notifications for transactions via email or SMS.
Use a virtual card for online purchases – Services like Privacy.com generate disposable card numbers.

Secure Payment & Investment Platforms

Use hardware wallets for cryptocurrency – Ledger Nano X or Trezor for long-term crypto storage.
Enable withdrawal whitelists – Some banks and crypto exchanges allow you to limit withdrawals to trusted accounts.
Avoid storing credit card details on shopping websites – Use a secure payment service like Apple Pay or PayPal instead.

Protecting Against Fraud & Phishing

Identify and Block Threats

Monitor your credit – Use Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax for free credit reports.
Set up fraud alerts & credit freezes – Prevent identity theft by freezing your credit when not in use.
Use email aliases – Services like SimpleLogin can generate unique email addresses for financial accounts.
Check URLs carefully – Always verify the bank’s domain before logging in.

Prevent Keyloggers & Malware Attacks

Use an on-screen keyboard for banking logins – Some malware records keystrokes
Run banking transactions in a sandboxed browser – Use Sandboxie or a virtual machine (VM)
Regularly scan your system – Use Emsisoft Anti-Malware or Malwarebytes to detect hidden threats.

Set Up Automated Security Monitoring

Use Have I Been Pwned (HIBP) – Get notified if your credentials are exposed in a breach
Monitor the dark web – Some identity theft protection services scan the dark web for leaked financial data
Use a password manager with breach alerts – 1Password and Bitwarden notify you of compromised passwords.

Backup & Emergency Plan

Keep offline backups of important financial documents – Store encrypted copies in an external drive or a Veracrypt vault
Have a secondary bank account – Just in case your primary one is locked due to fraud detection

Use an emergency contact method – Have a direct phone number for your bank’s fraud department saved.