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The week's question
In December 2024, in the thread "Re: BRK: Why Not XOM?", BreckHutHigh asked the members: "What about the long road trips with kids?" This week it is put to everyone again. The button below opens the small thread re-asking it - read what others have said so far, then give your own answer as an ordinary reply.
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Personal Finance / Macroeconomic Trends & Risks
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Author: OrmontUS   😊 😞
Number: of 4460 
Subject: Re: Personal account security
Date: 08/07/26 5:17 PM
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No. of Recommendations: 9
Personal electronic security can be separated into a number of categories:

1) Authentication: Use of secure passwords of at least 8 (more is better) mixed random characters in length is a good beginning; two-factor authentication is important and I would suggest writing to your bank to try to force them to implement it in your case (or be tempted to switch to another institution).

2) Signal security: This includes using very long Wi-Fi keys, VPN's and other encryption structures on all data.

3) Constant vigilance against "social engineering" which includes protecting yourself against phishing, and other malicious actions (frequently by email, but sometimes by phone, snail mail mor other unexpected pathways).

4) An understanding that if your PC/Phone is physically in the hands of a malicious individual, be they a repairperson, a hotel maid or in the hands of a friend, it can be tampered with or compromised. The disk drives are the most obvious, but not the only targets.

5) Peripherals, including, not only routers, but less obvious internet-of-things stuff attached to your network (wired or wi-fi) can be compromised - either through direct attacks or even (potentially) in the factory before shipment (read the Snowden releases for reference).

6) Be careful to think about the potential flow of funds between your accounts and keep them uni-directional as much as possible to prevent the compromise of one institution's accounts giving permission to sink the whole ship.

7) Most importantly, think before you click. Be suspicious of everything and never click on an emailed link or document. Even if the email is from a trusted source, separately go to the company's web site and take nothing for granted. Don't trade ease of use for a lower security threshold.

Jeff
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