At Callan Capital, we are committed to cybersecurity awareness, education, and training. It is our hope that the following is helpful for you, your family, and friends as a resource for cybercrime prevention, knowledge, and mitigation. This is part of a monthly cyber awareness series aimed at helping our clients avoid cybercrime.
Encryption
- Strive for high encryption (256K or higher); WPA 2 or higher Wi-Fi encryption
- Encrypt thumb drives, spreadsheets, photos, documents, and print jobs
- Establish a VPN
- Consider BitLocker or FileVault for full-disk encryption
It is recommended to use Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 and 3 (WPA 2 and WPA 3) for WiFi encryption rather than older and more vulnerable Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). For guest wireless network access, also use WPA 2 or WPA 3.
Strongly consider a VPN for additional network security. A VPN encrypts your data so that hackers cannot tell where you are located or what you do online even if your router is compromised. A VPN works by encrypting to make data unreadable and altering your IP address. VPNs can be used on desktops, laptops, phones, or tablets.
BitLocker and FileVault are full-disk encryptions that help protect data on your startup disk to help protect your files from unwanted access. With BitLocker and FileVault, you log in to your user account before you can access your device.
BitLocker is for Windows operating systems and FileVault is for Macintosh operating systems. BitLocker provides the most protection when used with a Trusted Platform Module version 1.2 or later which is automatically installed as a hardware component in many newer computers. There are workarounds if you have an older device. Further security includes the user keying a PIN or inserting a removable device such as a USB flash drive that contains a startup key. These provide multifactor authentication and assurance that the computer will not start or resume from hibernation until the correct PIN or startup key is inserted.
Be sure to encrypt thumb drives, spreadsheets, photos, and documents. Also, set encryption defaults for Windows and Macintosh print jobs.
Disclaimer: Callan Capital does not provide individual tax or legal advice, nor does it provide financing services. Clients should review planned financial transactions and wealth transfer strategies with their own tax and legal advisors. Callan Capital outsources to lending and financial institutions that directly provide our clients with, securities-based financing, residential and commercial financing and cash management services. For more information, please refer to our most recent Form ADV Part 2A which may be found at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.