Creating online accounts for your bank, health insurance or retirement accounts is central to managing your health and financial plans and keeping your information up to date. With so much of our lives now managed online, it’s important to know how to protect your digital privacy.

Check out the tips and resources below for simple things you can do to keep your online accounts secure:

1. Register, set up and routinely monitor your online accounts.

Create online accounts and regularly log in to monitor them. You can also sign up for foreign login or activity alerts to receive notifications when there is activity on your accounts.

2. Use strong, unique passwords or passphrases, and never share them.

Use a trusted passphrase vault program to create and track passwords so you don’t have to remember your credentials for each account.

3. Use multi-factor authentication

Also known as “two-factor authentication,” this feature requires a second credential to verify your identity (for example, entering a unique code sent by text message or email).

4. Monitor your credit report to catch signs of identity theft early

Federal law allows you to receive a free copy of your credit report every 12 months by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. Anthem medical plan members also have access to free credit and identity monitoring services through AllClear ID.

5. Beware of phishing attacks and scams

Phishing is an attempt to solicit your personal information through legitimate-looking emails, web links or attachments. Learn how to recognize and avoid these attacks, and increase your awareness of common online scams and frauds.

6. Know how to report identity theft and cybersecurity incidents

For identity theft, submit a report at IdentityTheft.gov. For cybersecurity incidents related to your online benefit accounts, contact the vendor immediately.

Learn more from an IU cybersecurity expert

Employees who wish to learn more about this topic can register for a webinar from noon to 1:30 p.m. April 28 titled “Cybersecurity: Is it as Hopeless as it Seems?” Participants will join IU Vice President for Research Fred Cate to discuss cybersecurity and learn practical steps to protect themselves at home and at work.

For additional resources and tips, visit the IU Human Resources Online Account Security web page. For questions, contact askhr@iu.edu.