Here's a full transcript of the episode.
Rob: It can happen to the best of us. It can happen on social media. It can happen on your computer. It can happen on your mobile device, your cell phone. The hackers are out to get us. And with some tips on how we can avoid getting hacked by these terrible people, Greg Marcyniuk from Heritage Insurance. Greg, it's happening more and more all the time.
Greg: Well, it is Robin. And the biggest factor is people are lazy and not doing the proper prevention on their cell phone because that's what these cybercriminals are looking for. They're looking for the easiest way because they're just as lazy as a lot of us are. So again, I think when you're away from your device, make sure that it's protected by bringing up the lock screen.
Make sure your device is set to automatically lock off in a couple of minutes. Never leave your device unattended in a public place and only allow others to use your device that they are trustworthy, and you give them the expressed approval on that. And if you do suspect that someone may have had access to your device or used your device, contact either your IT person or take it and have someone take a look.
Hackers gain access in the system physically by breaching a company's security measures and they're just looking to gain for the least resistance to get in there. So don't allow any unauthorized visitors onto yours as I'd mentioned earlier. And if someone claims to be seen, confirm that that person may be expecting a guest. Or if they're coming into your office and they're just snooping around on your personal computer, make sure that you know who it is and what you have.
When it comes to your USB drives or anything like that, make sure that you keep them separate and make sure you know what's going on there. And password-protect all of your files. Store important data on separate devices typically that way if one of your portable devices is lost or stolen whoever finds it won't have all of your important information. The other thing is backing up your data on your phone and on your iPad so that you're not going to lose any of your copy, and eject devices properly to avoid damage or computer data.
When you're traveling, that's another real big area where cyber people do like to strike. So, again, make sure that you're locking your devices to ensure unauthorized access so they can't access your device. Install all your updates. Like, this is for anything, whether it be your worktop, whether it be your laptop, whether it be your iPad, whether it be your iPhone. The reason they do these updates is so that they keep ahead of the hackers so you definitely want to do that.
The other big thing that I see regularly is people utilizing public Wi-Fi and cyber criminals set up Wi-Fi remotes there on the public system that's not secured. And they're just waiting there for you to use it. So just don't use that. And again, turn off auto-connect for your Wi-Fi and your Bluetooth because they're just looking for that as well.
And the other thing is, we had talked about in the past, you should be turning your phone off and your iPad on a daily basis so that if anybody does get in there and they try to access it with a worm by shutting it off every day, you're cutting out the cyber guys.
Rob: Some great tips to protect yourself. Now, are we insured against the hackers?
Greg: There are some coverages in place. Again, it's best to go through and talk to your broker to see what coverages are there but there are coverages with particular policies that do provide coverage in the event you do get hacked.
Rob: You can review these tips online.
Greg: That's correct at heritageinsurance.ca or come on down here at the corner of First and Fairford and see any of our fine people here working with us.
Rob: Greg Marcyniuk, Heritage Insurance on "Ask The Expert."
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