lock – PSafe Blog

What You Need to Know About Online Banking

PSafe Newsroom — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 14:00:07 +0000

Are you still doing your banking in-person or through the mail? As of 2016, an estimated 70% of Millennials in America are making their financial transactions over the Internet. That number keeps growing rapidly every year — and there are excellent reasons why! Online banking is fast, safe, user-friendly, and can be done from anywhere in the world. Still, you can further secure your online banking app by using Applock to block others from accessing your banking app:

Some bank customers avoid doing financial transactions online, because they fear their personal information will be stolen. Applock will help to protect your banking app by adding an extra layer of protection — you can lock your app with a password so that malicious individuals won’t be able to see your online banking information.

Still, American banking websites and apps are fortified with extra-strength security against hackers and other malicious threats. But if you’re still concerned, double-check that your firewall is activated on either your computer or Android device. You should also regularly scan your device for malware to check for any security threats that might compromise your phone — and steal your information. Click here to run a Full Virus Scan:

The Top 5 Perks of an Online Banking App

Online Banking is convenient. This is really the best aspect of online banking. If you have a Wi-Fi connection and a computer, you can do your bank transactions from anywhere. Most major banks offer Android apps now too. It’s that simple.
Deposit your check without waiting in line. Many banking apps offer a feature where you can deposit your checks by taking a cell phone photo of them. So, you’ll have access to your money almost instantly!
Instantly review your account balances and transactions. Wondering how much money is sitting in your savings account? Just log on to your online banking account and all your financial data will be sitting at your fingertips! No need to phone the bank’s hotline or swing by an ATM.
Pay your bills on time. When you use online banking, you can pay off any debts instantly. If you’re prone to forgetting about bills, you can even set up automatic withdrawals. Making these transactions electronically means you don’t have to spend extra money on stamps, envelopes, and checks. You also won’t need to allot extra time for mail delivery.
Transfer funds to anyone, anywhere. Ever heard of an e-transfer? It’s exactly what it sounds like: an electronic transfer of money. Transmitted over email, you can send funds to anyone with an online banking account. It’s a great way to send larger amounts of money, such as rent. No need to meet up in-person or write checks any longer.

Your Guide to Childproofing an Android Device

PSafe Newsroom — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 18:00:14 +0000

You don’t want your child sending off gibberish emails to your co-workers again, right? You only want your young child playing with your phone some of the time, to keep him or her busy, perhaps. Click below to keep your children — and everyone else — out of your favorite or more sensitive apps.

DFNDR’s Applock feature lets you lock sensitive apps with a password, even if your phone’s home screen is unlocked. You don’t have to lock down every app, either, meaning that you can keep your child-approved apps running. But that’s not all you can do. The following will explain how you can further childproof your phone.

Lock Your Screen

Add a screen lock to your phone so your child can’t get into it if you leave it somewhere. To add a lock screen, go to “Settings.” Here, choose “Security” and then “Screen Lock.” You can then choose to add a PIN or a pattern to lock your phone settings. Your child would have to be a genius in order to figure out how to get through those.

Restrict Access to the Google Play Store

One of the biggest worries about your child getting into your phone is buying anything from the Google Play store. But Android comes already-equipped with restrictions. To turn these on, tap “Settings” on the Play Store side menu. Click the option to always require a password when making in-app purchases.

Set Web Browser Limits

The Mobicip app lets you set controls for how long your child can browse the Internet. To use, you first set up a parental account that lets you set, monitor, and change browsing length controls. You can also block out websites that you don’t want your child accessing.

Separate Your User Profiles

The most current Android devices (due to a function on the Lollipop operating system and up) lets you create separate user profiles for different family members. As part of this feature, you can create restricted profiles for your kids. This profile lets you lock down apps and set parental restrictions on what might be unsuitable content.

To create a new profile, navigate to “Settings.” Next, click on “Users” and “Add user or profile.” After that, click “Restricted profile.” Once there, click “New profile” to change it to your child’s name. In the profile, you’ll see every app downloaded to your phone. You can block or unblock apps based on your intended level of restriction.

How to Use a Password Manager Securely on Android

PSafe Newsroom — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:00:52 +0000

The last thing you want, when trusting a password manager with all of your account and financial information, is for a hacker to gain access to it all. Cyber and identity theft crimes have been increasing each year; your personal information is now more vulnerable than it used to be, which means that you now need to take stricter measures to ensure your security. To start, you should secure your most sensitive apps, such as your password manager, banking apps, social networking apps, and email with Applock:

This will lock your selected apps with a password to further protect them from malicious individuals, or in case of loss or theft.

Consider a Password Manager

If you want reliable security and quality of service, it would be best to pay for a password manager app. Although there are many great, free password managers out there, they won’t have the same benefits as a paid service, such as reliable customer service. Some good ones are Dashlane or LogMeOnce.

Find Which Storage Method Works Best

Most password managers allow you to choose if you want to store your encrypted data in a cloud database or else locally on your device. There are pros and cons to both methods, so one is not necessarily more secure than the other, but it all depends on your password manager service. It depends on how the cloud database stores your data. But, storing locally is less secure in the event that your phone is lost, stolen, or hacked.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

It’s amazing how many people skip this step. Your information can never be too secure. If you want your password manager to work well, then you should choose a service that allows you to use two-factor authentication. If you try to log into an account from a new location or device, this step will make you provide additional information to prove that you are the genuine owner of that account.

It’s All About the Passwords

A password manager will evaluate the safety of your current passwords, and provide new, stronger passwords when needed. Also, don’t forget to regularly change your various passwords and master password (if not automatic). Most importantly: make sure that your master password is as strong and complex as possible.

Use Additional Security Features

Take advantage of any additional security features that are offered by your password manager, such as logging you out of the service after a period of inactivity. Generally, it’s a good idea to logout of your password manager when not using your device.

Does the U.S. Government Value Your Privacy?

PSafe Newsroom — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 20:09:18 +0000

Passed this week, the new bill repeals the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) privacy regulations that protect the private data of Americans. If this bill is signed into law, Internet service providers (ISPs) will be able to collect and sell consumers’ private browsing habits and data to advertisers and beyond without their consent. So, your internet provider, whether it’s Comcast, Verizon, or another service, will know which devices you’re using, when you’re using them, and what you’re using them for. They’ll know your geolocation, which websites you visit, the bank you use, your health status, which shows you watch, and more. So, how can you keep your private data safe?

Lock Your Apps

Your online privacy and security is more important than ever, and your sensitive data is now more vulnerable. Luckily, there is a way that you can improve your mobile security and the general security of your information. Using DFNDR’s Applock feature allows you to lock specific apps with a unique password, meaning that even if a thief or snooping family member figured out how to bypass your lock screen, your sensitive data would be protected by a second barrier. Click the button above to lock apps that contain sensitive information, such as your email account, Facebook, contacts, text messages, images, and any other app that you want to secure. That way, malicious individuals will not be able to access and steal your personal information.

Secure Your Data

The FCC’s privacy rules passed during the previous administration required customers to give ISPs consent before the ISP could use their data. The ISP would then have to inform them on what they collected, why, and what it would be used for. The FCC’s rules also required that ISPs protect their consumers’ data from theft and data breaches. The Republican senators’ voted to eliminate all of these regulations. This means that your personal, private information will be collected and sold by major corporations that have no obligation to secure the data that they take from you. In addition, the bill prevents the FCC from introducing any new initiatives that aim to protect user data.

This will have a number of consequences, beyond just making your information more easily available to hackers. For instance, your Internet providers will be able to view your browsing history, which web pages you visit, who you email, and who you speak to online. Search engines such as Google are already able to track your browsing history, but ISPs will have access to even more information about you, and will be allowed to sell this information to marketers.

The future of Internet security is uncertain under the current administration, so it’s vital to begin taking measures now to protect your data. DFNDR’s security and privacy features are designed to help you retain complete control over who has access to your private information. Check back for more security updates on how you can stay safe on your devices.