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Keeping your personal information private helps you avoid fraud and cybercriminals! But when you want to buy life insurance and you are researching companies and getting quotes, you will need to share some personal details. How do you keep your personal data out of the hands of criminals? These tips will help!
Why it is so essential to protect your personal information
Nearly half of all data breaches in 2023 involved customers personal data. This resulted in many personal details such as ID numbers finding their way into the hands of criminals, who then used this data to commit fraud and other crimes! When a criminal has your personal information they can open accounts in your name, take out insurance policies in your name and sometimes even access your bank accounts! It really is essential to prevent this from happening to you when you are online.
Understanding the POPIA act and how it ensures your personal info is protected
South African companies, including life insurance companies, are required to comply with the POPIA act to protect your personal information.
POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) requires companies and organisations to keep your details secure and not share them without your permission or for a very good reason! In practice, this means companies and organisations must keep your personal information safe from cybercriminals, use it only for the purpose it was intended, not share it with anyone else unless you have given permission to do so, and destroy it when they no longer need it. An insurance company cannot pass on your cell number to a debt collector, for example, and if you share details of your medical history, they have to keep this information secure to ensure no one else can access it.
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When you deal with an insurance company they should indicate that they are POPIA compliant, and you can ask them to share how they keep your personal information safe. Always check this before requesting a quote or sharing your personal details with them online or over the phone.
1Life Insurance implements and follows the regulations of POPIA and keeps all client information confidential, you can read more about this in this blog.
Make it hard for criminals to access your personal information
As well as making sure you always deal with POPIA compliant insurers and companies, you can also do your part to make it hard for criminals to access your information by following these tips:
Create strong passwords
Criminals like easy-to-guess passwords that never change! This is one of the ways criminals can obtain your information and use it to defraud you, sometimes even blackmail you. A strong password is one that is hard to guess, unique and not shared anywhere!
- Use a combination of upper- and lower-case letters as well as numbers and symbols in your passwords.
- Change your passwords regularly
- Use different passwords for different sites, especially those where your personal and financial details are kept.
- Consider using a password manager tool, such as via your browser, software company or antivirus provider, to keep passwords safe.
Follow safe online practices
Don’t share personal information online unless you have to and there is a legitimate reason, and you know that the organisation or person who you share it with will keep your details safe and private. You also need to be very cautious of sharing personal information on social media. TikTok and Instagram are not just for entertainment and sharing updates with friends, they are also places criminals frequent to find their next victim!
One way to protect your personal data on social media sites and apps is to set your privacy settings so that only close friends and family can see your profile, posts and contact details. And, make sure your close friends and family also keep their and any info you share with them private and within the group!
Finally, avoid using public wi-fi. It is a hunting ground criminals use regularly! Rather use a VPN, secure or password protected network for any online transactions and sharing of your personal details.
Learn how to recognise and avoid phishing scams
Phishing scams are one of the most common ways cybercrimes are committed. In a phishing scam, a criminal gets you to share information, your bank account details for example, by posing as a legitimate organisation - such as when you receive an email from “your bank” asking you to verify a transaction or prevent fraud by clicking on a link. Click on the link and you are directed to a page that looks like “your bank” but is actually a criminal and you inadvertently give them your bank details. Bad idea!
You can identify and avoid phishing scams by:
- Checking email addresses’ domain to verify their legitimacy
- Not clicking on any links or opening files sent via email unless you know and trust the sender and know that the person sending the link and organisation is who they say they are
- Not responding in any way to unsolicited email without checking who it is from, what is required and why?
- Reporting suspected phishing to the organisation named as well as the South African Police Service and South African Fraud Prevention Services
If you think the email is legitimate, check using details on official websites if the email is legitimate and requires any action from you.
You can find more tips and information on phishing scams on the SABRIC website.
Ensure website security
Always only share information on secure sites, usually indicated by a lock symbol in front of the URL address. All reputable financial services companies use these secure sites, so if you don’t see the virtual lock, move off the website!
You should also check that the website has contact details, any company registration details and licenses such as being a licensed financial services provider (FSP) with the Financial Sector Conduct Authority.
Additional protection measures
Another way to protect your personal data is to install antivirus software and/or a firewall. Antivirus may seem like an irritation, but it is a vital part of your defence against cybercrime attacks! Install antivirus and anti-spy ware and consider using a firewall to further protect your information. Your software and/or antivirus provider can help you with this.
1Life Insurance is committed to changing lives and keeping your information safe
1Life Insurance keeps all your information safe and secure and we don’t ever share your personal details. 1Life Insurance has been changing lives for nearly two decades with flexible policies that can be tailored to your needs and budget, with life cover from R300 000 up to R10 million. You can buy life cover online and save up to 13% on premiums, as well as access and manage your policy safely and conveniently and in your own time on the online policyholder services portal and WhatsApp service centre.
1Life Insurance has been voted an iconic brand 2 years in a row, in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 Ask Afrika Icon Brands Awards and has been recognised as South Africa’s #1 direct life insurer in the annual Swiss Re Reports for 11 consecutive years! Our policyholders are always top of mind, and in 2023 and 2022, we had the highest net sentiment in the PWC SA Insurance Index Report. Talk to us today to find out how we can change your life!
Keep safe and secure
Cybercriminals are everywhere, but like all criminals, they are looking for easy targets! Surf on safe sites, make it hard to access your personal information with complicated passwords and watch out for scams and unsafe sites! When you make it hard to commit a crime, criminals will be reluctant to target you!