Account takeovers are more common than you think, and once they happen, the damage can be extensive. However, with the right practices, your users can safeguard their accounts and minimize the risk. Here’s a quick guide to help educate your users on how to protect themselves and enhance account takeover protection.
10 Essential Tips to Strengthen Account Takeover Protection
- Stay Alert: Phishing attacks are everywhere. Don’t click on suspicious links or open attachments from unknown sources. Verify emails requesting sensitive information by contacting the organization directly to avoid falling victim to account takeover attacks.
- Guard Against Social Engineering: Be wary of anyone trying to manipulate you into revealing confidential information. Always verify identities before sharing sensitive information to enhance your account security.
- Enable MFA: Use Multi-Factor Authentication wherever possible. It adds an extra layer of protection that can prevent unauthorized access even if your password is compromised, a key factor in account takeover protection.
- Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Avoid using easily guessable information. Each account should have a unique password to prevent credential stuffing attacks, a common method in account takeover scenarios.
- Keep Passwords Fresh: Regularly update and change your passwords, especially after any potential breach. Never reuse old passwords to maintain strong account security.
- Use a Password Manager: Let a reputable password manager store and generate strong, unique passwords for you. It’s the safest way to manage your credentials and prevent account takeover.
- Monitor Account Activity: Regularly review your account for any suspicious or unauthorized transactions. Set up alerts for unusual login attempts to catch potential account takeover attempts early.
- Update Your Software: Keep all your devices and applications up to date with the latest security patches to prevent vulnerabilities that could lead to account takeover attacks.
- Avoid Public Wi-Fi: Don’t access sensitive accounts over public Wi-Fi networks. If you must, use a VPN for an additional layer of security, reducing the risk of account takeover.
- Choose Secure Recovery Options: Set up secure account recovery options and keep them updated. Avoid using easily discoverable information in recovery questions to maintain account takeover protection.
Take the next step
Empowering your users with these best practices can go a long way in preventing account takeovers and enhancing overall account security. A well-informed user base is a critical component of a robust security strategy.
Want to give your users even more tools to protect themselves from account takeover? Download our eBook for a deep dive into securing accounts and preventing takeovers.