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Stay safe online - combat rising fraud in Canada

Oct 08, 2024
By Farms.com

Simple steps to strengthen your online security

 

The prevalence of online fraud in Canada has surged as more individuals engage in digital transactions and communications.

An Interac cybersecurity survey highlights that 86% of Canadians are weary of constant fraud attempts, with more than half facing scams weekly. Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often using personal information to masquerade as trusted contacts.

To combat these threats, Canadians must adopt proactive digital hygiene measures. Interac has outlined a three-step digital health checkup that should be conducted every three months to assess and enhance online security.

Diagnosis: Begin by evaluating your online accounts. Ensure passwords are strong, unique, and not reused across different sites. Review your social media privacy settings to control what personal information is publicly visible. Check your devices for necessary data protection.

Remedy: After identifying weaknesses, take swift action. Create robust passwords that incorporate letters, numbers, and symbols. Eliminate duplicated passwords across accounts.

Set social media accounts to private, and be cautious about sharing personal details online. Install antivirus software on all devices and enable biometric security features for added protection.

Prevention: Strengthen your security by implementing additional safeguards. Use a password for device access and activate two-factor authentication on all accounts, especially banking apps. Secure your home network by changing default usernames and passwords for your Wi-Fi router. Refrain from using public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities.

By integrating these digital hygiene practices into their online routines, Canadians can better safeguard themselves against the increasing risks of online fraud. Being proactive and informed is key to ensuring personal and financial safety in a digital world.


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The 12-day war between Iran-Israel came to an end sending crude oil futures plunging as the big fund speculators removed the war risk premium.

The weather risk premium in the Ag complex is sending corn, wheat and soybean futures lower on month-end selling ahead of the market moving USDA quarterly grain stocks and acreage reports on June 30th.

Instead, funds were chasing and sending tech stocks higher with the S&P 500/NASDAQ indexes setting new all-time record highs!

June 1 USDA Hogs and pigs report was slightly bearish while the U.S. $ Index traded to new contract lows as the de-dollarization that began in 2014 continues.

Feed in the form of soybean meal futures for livestock producers got cheaper, trading to new contract lows.

The Stats Canada seeded acreage update was bullish canola and wheat.