Andrew Knight of Ling Capital Offers Cyber Security Tips to His Client Base

Tokyo, Japan, November 11, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Andrew Knight, Senior Portfolio Manager at Ling Capital in Tokyo has recently spoken on the dangers of cyber security attacks on computers and devices connected to the internet, and offered some useful tips on how to best protect you and your family from cyber-crime.

“Cyber-criminals in this modern age are constantly evolving and improving their skills, potentially gaining information from your computer(s) that could be harmful to you and your family.” Said Mr Knight, “And this could be happening under your nose, from information you may feel is innocuous. The damning truth is that you are probably still at risk from cyber-crime. I have put together a short checklist that everyone should follow to ensure their data is safe.”

Fundamentally, as long as you are vigilant, pay attention to what it is you are sharing and look out for anything unusual, no matter how small, we will be one step closer to stopping cyber-crime for good.

Andrew Knight, Senior Portfolio Manager

Anti-virus Software

·         Schedule REGULAR updates for your anti-virus software.

·         Enable real-time file scanning.

·         Do a full system scan on a WEEKLY basis.

Strong Passwords

·         LONGER = STRONGER. The longer your password, the harder it is for someone to discover.

·         DO NOT use family or pet names, your date of birth, or words from the dictionary.

·         Include numbers and special characters, try to avoid plain text.

·         Buy a password management software package. This will securely encrypt and store all of your passwords, without the risk of them being stolen (or you forgetting them!)

Encryption

·         Make sure you encrypt your email accounts, hard disks, backups, and mobile devices.

Social Media

·         Don’t overshare- do you really know everyone’s intentions? This is one of the most common ways for cyber criminals to access your data and potentially steal your identity.

·         Get a lot of friend requests? Do you really know who they all are? Be cautious, and verify that you know them and are happy to share your details with them.

·         Understand your privacy settings- most people assume they are protected by their social network automatically. The truth is, you’re probably not. You need to tell the social network what you do and don’t want to share. For example, you may want your family to see pictures of your baby, but not others. Stay in control of your profile.

“These are just some basic tips to ensure you are doing what you can to protect you and your family’s private details and information.” Said Andrew. “But fundamentally, as long as you are vigilant, pay attention to what it is you are sharing and look out for anything unusual, no matter how small, and you follow these steps, we will be one step closer to stopping cyber-crime for good.” He concluded.

Ling Capital is an independent financial advisory firm that helps its global client base achieve their financial expectations of the future. They are based in Tokyo, Japan and have been serving their private client division since 2011. Please visit www.lingcapital.com or email [email protected] for any further information. Alternatively you can call us on +(00)813 4520 9594.