Best practices to avoid social media attacks include placing strong security controls on your accounts to minimize what is shared publicly, using unique passphrases for each of your social media platforms, and manually turning on multi-factor authentication on each of your social media accounts. 

While the list of best practices is even more extensive, these are simple measures you can implement today. When in doubt, review the privacy settings of your social media accounts to adjust what and how much you share. 

Data Brokers 

You can also request for data collection sites to remove your information. The more time you spend on social media, or online, the more your information is circulating the web. 

Data brokers, which number in the thousands, typically purchase information on individuals from corporations. This includes the posts you’ve made or liked, online quizzes you’ve taken, online sweepstakes you’ve entered and the websites you’ve visited. Additionally, they gather public information on you, such as birth certificates and bankruptcy records, as well as financial data, like money owed on a department store credit card and items purchased with a store’s loyalty card. While BNY Mellon never shares client information or data with third parties, an abundance of accessible data from other sources could allow cybercriminals to target you and your assets. 

However, you can contact data brokers directly and request your data, opt out of their information mining services, or pay a private company to remove data. You can also adjust your online behavior, use a privacy-focused browser, or use a virtual private network (VPN) to hide your IP address. 

Virtual Private Networks (VPN)

Because websites, internet service providers (ISPs) or anyone connected to your network can see your browsing activity and collect personal data through your computer’s IP address (or virtual ID), private browsers do not protect you from snooping. However, a VPN can offer anonymity by masking your IP address from everyone except for the VPN provider. 

Although many VPNs are available for use, it’s important to avoid free options because many contain malware. You should choose one that suits your budget and needs, and sign up for a trial to assess the speed beforehand. 

Consistency is Key 

While privacy measures are important to practice year round, in light of October being Cybersecurity Awareness Month, there are a few things you should know. During the holiday season, under the guise of shipping notices, deals and charities, criminals often prey on innocent consumers with malware and direct them toward phishing sites that steal personal information. 

Aside from sticking to reputable retailers and ensuring the websites you visit are secure (there should be an “s” after the “http” at the beginning of the URL: e.g., https), you can protect yourself with the methods mentioned above, such as using privacy controls, managing your personal data online and using a VPN when shopping. And while these techniques are helpful, remember that we also have you covered.

BNY Mellon is committed to protecting your data and account information, which it never shares with third parties. BNY Mellon’s Enterprise Resiliency Office works in coordination with our digital and technology teams to deliver timely and effective incident identification, assessment, escalation, communication and resolution. We do this with the goal of providing clients with superior service as well as world-class products and services.

Footnotes: 

¹Settings may differ depending on operating systems and system upgrades.