
What every investor needs to understand about corporate banruptcy-part 2
by Securities and Exchange Commission

Online Brokerage Accounts-Safeguarding your money and personal information-part 1
by Securities and Exchange Commission
Online Brokerage Accounts-Safeguarding your money and personal information-part 2
by Securities and Exchange Commission
www.sec.gov
Back To Investments
| All By Securities and Exchange Commission
| View Text Article
Online Brokerage Accounts-Safeguarding your money and personal information-part 2-
Don't Respond to Emails Requesting Personal Information.
Legitimate entities will not ask you to provide or verify sensitive
information through a non-secure means, such as email. If you have
reason to believe that your financial institution actually does need
personal information from you, pick up the phone and call the company
yourself - using the number in your rolodex, not the one the email
provides!
Security
Tip: Even though a web address in an email may look legitimate,
fraudsters can mask the true destination. Rather than merely clicking on
a link provided in an email, type the web address into your browser
yourself (or use a bookmark you previously created).
- Be Smart About Your Password. The best passwords are
ones that are difficult to guess. Try using a password that consists
of a combination of numbers, letters (both upper case and lower case),
punctuation, and special characters. You should change your password
regularly and use a different password for each of your accounts.
Don't share your password with others and never reply to "phishing"
emails with your password or other sensitive information. You also
shouldn't store your password on your computer. If you need to write
down your password, store it in a secure, private place.
- Use Extra Caution with Wireless Connections. Wireless
networks may not provide as much security as wired Internet
connections. In fact, many "hotspots" - wireless networks in
public areas like airports, hotels and restaurants - reduce their
security so it's easier for individuals to access and use these
wireless networks. Unless you use a security token, you may decide
that accessing your online brokerage account through a wireless
connection isn't worth the security risk. You can learn more about
security issues relating to wireless networks on the website of the Wi-Fi
Alliance.
- Log Out Completely. Closing or minimizing your browser
or typing in a new web address when you're done using your online
account may not be enough to prevent others from gaining access to
your account information. Instead, click on the "log out"
button to terminate your online session. In addition, you shouldn't
permit your browser to "remember" your username and password
information. If this browser feature is active, anyone using your
computer will have access to your brokerage account information.
Add to a notebook or create a new notebook