Protecting Your Data From Online Threats

NEW YORK — Protect your data from online threats – have you noticed that it’s getting harder to do? Scam emails and texts look more convincing than ever. That’s not your imagination. The bad guys have gotten smarter, faster, and better – thanks in part to AI. And they’re not just targeting you. They’re going after your clients, kids, parents, and anyone else who might accidentally click the wrong thing.

As a real estate professional, you’re not just managing personal information – you’re handling sensitive data on behalf of people making the biggest financial decisions of their lives. The risk is real. But protecting your data doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It starts with a few basic rules and a commitment to staying alert. 

By following these four steps, you’ll learn how to protect your data from online threats and help keep your clients, family, and yourself safer every day.

Stop before you click anything

Most cybercrimes begin with a single click. That link in a text message from “Amazon?” The invoice in that email from “Verizon?” The file shared by a “title company” you’ve never heard of? If you click, you could be handing over access to your device, contacts, or login credentials without realizing it. 

Phishing has been around for decades, but today’s phishing emails and texts are harder to spot. With AI tools, scammers can craft messages that sound like your boss, client, or family. One misplaced click can open the door to ransomware, malware, or identity theft. That’s why it’s crucial to stay alert and take steps to protect your data from online threats before they ever reach your inbox.

The best defense? Stop. Take a pause. If something feels off – a prompt to act fast, a fuzzy logo, a message without a phone number but a link – don’t click. Hover over email addresses and URLs to preview them. If it’s unfamiliar or doesn’t feel right, contact the sender by calling them or going online directly in a chat. When in doubt, delete.

Use stronger passwords to protect your data from online threats

Yes, it’s still worth repeating. Never use the same passwords. It only takes one compromised website for hackers to try your login credentials everywhere else. Through the dark web, they can sell it to other bad actors. And no, “1234Tacoma!” is not a strong password just because it has an exclamation point. 

Instead, use long, complex passwords that are hard to guess – ideally, a mix of random words, phrases, numbers, and symbols. Better yet, use a password manager to create and store strong, unique passwords for every site you log into. These tools encrypt your data and can even alert you when a password is weak or has been exposed in a data breach.

Finally, the safest trend is to turn on multifactor authentication (MFA) whenever available. This adds a second layer of protection by requiring you to verify your login via a code sent to your phone or an app. Yes, it will be a little more inconvenient, but it’s one of the most effective defenses you can use.

Know who’s most at risk – and why

Cybercriminals don’t just go after tech companies, MLSs, and big banks. They target people they believe are less tech-sophisticated or more distracted. That’s why kids, older adults, and real estate professionals are becoming a more common target.

Children may click on links without knowing better. Seniors may not recognize a fake email pretending to be their bank. And real estate agents? You often juggle dozens of conversations across texts, email, and social media. You’re busy and work in a high-trust, high-value profession – making your inbox a goldmine for scammers.

Real estate clients often receive legitimate emails that include wire instructions, login credentials, or personal financial data. So, it’s easy to miss when a bad actor sends a fake message with slightly altered details – a wrong phone number or a different domain name.

These scams don’t just target agents; they use agents as part of the scam. And the consequences can be devastating.

At the NAR Legislative meetings, agents were warned about “pig butchering,” a scheme reported by the U.S. Secret Service specifically targeting real estate agents. A fake buyer reaches out, proclaims wealth from cryptocurrency, and allows the agent to invest a small amount in their phony crypto. 

They quickly give the agent a nice return and offer a larger crypto investment to make more money. The result is that more than 40 agents have lost funds – including retirement savings.

To help protect your clients from wire fraud and phishing attempts, let them know upfront you’ll never ask them to send financial information via email or text and urge them to always confirm details by calling you on your mobile.

Update more than just your phone

Let’s be honest. Most of us hit “Remind Me Tomorrow” when that software update notification pops up.

But waiting too long can leave you wide open to known security holes. Updates are often issued because a weakness was discovered. And those updates matter more than you think when it comes to your phone, your laptop, or even your smart doorbell at home.

Real estate pros live on their devices. If one of them gets hacked, it’s not just your personal data at risk. It could be client info, signed docs, or calendar details that get exposed. So, take the time to update everything regularly, from apps to operating systems.

And don’t overlook your habits. Are you using free Wi-Fi at coffee shops to send contracts? Logging into your email without multifactor authentication? These little things can cause big headaches. Now’s a good time to tighten things up.

It’s not just your data, it’s everyone’s

You’re not just protecting yourself. You’re also protecting your clients, your business and those around you who may not even know they’re at risk. Think about it. Your clients are already juggling contracts, loans and emotions. Your parents might not recognize a scam email. Your kids may assume every link is safe.

That’s why your role is bigger than “don’t click the link.” You’re the first line of defense in your digital world.

And by staying sharp, asking questions, and reminding others to be careful, we all can make it harder for scammers to win. In the end, the smartest move you can make is to protect your data from online threats – and encourage others to do the same.

Need help? Whether you’re unsure about a sketchy link, struggling with a security setting, or just need assistance updating your software, don’t guess. Contact Tech Helpline by phone, email or chat on its app. You’ll talk to a real person who understands real estate and can walk you through everything, step by step.

Source: Tech HelpLine

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