National Internet Safety Month: Strengthen Your Cyber Defenses

June marks National Internet Safety Month—and with the growing sophistication of cyber threats, particularly targeting financial information and personal data, staying vigilant online is more important than ever. Whether you’re checking your investments or logging into a financial portal, simple proactive steps can go a long way in protecting your wealth. At Oppenheimer, we’re committed to helping you stay secure. Here's how we’re safeguarding our systems—and what you can do to strengthen your own cybersecurity practices.

Here’s a snapshot of the firm’s key practices:

• Leveraging third-party cybersecurity firms for network monitoring, endpoint protection, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing.
• Partnering with cybersecurity consultants and auditors to assess and improve our protocols through exercises like tabletop scenarios and incident response evaluations.
• Conducting regular system scans to identify and address critical vulnerabilities.
• Providing ongoing employee training, including phishing simulations, to raise awareness and reduce risk.
• Oppenheimer’s security measures also include industry-standard insurance through SIPC, as well as cybersecurity insurance protection for client accounts.

Cybercriminals often target financial accounts and personal data with sophisticated tactics, seeking to exploit vulnerabilities and gain access to your hard-earned assets. Therefore, understanding how to protect your wealth management information is crucial. Below are a few key cybersecurity practices to help you safeguard your financial future.

Monitor Your Financial Accounts Regularly:

• Set up account alerts: Many financial institutions offer alerts for unusual activity or transactions. These alerts can quickly notify you of any suspicious behavior. By actively reviewing your financial accounts, you can catch potential fraud early on.
• View your statements: Frequently check your account balances and statements for unauthorized charges or transactions. The sooner you detect an issue, the easier it will be to resolve.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one of the most effective ways to protect your wealth management accounts by adding an extra layer of protection. This method requires users to verify their identity through two or more methods, such as a password and a unique code sent to your phone.

View Oppenheimer’s MFA page to learn more about enhancing your account security on our Client Access Web Portal and the Oppenheimer Mobile App.

Secure Your Devices and Networks:

You can reduce your risk of a cyberattack and help to ensure that your devices and home networks are protected by implementing these tactics:

• Set up a secure Wi-Fi network: Your home network should be both password-protected and encrypted. Avoid accessing sensitive financial accounts over public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks, which are more vulnerable to attacks.
• Update your software: Software updates often contain patches for security vulnerabilities that hackers aim to exploit. Be sure to regularly update your devices, including smartphones, computers, and any other gadgets connected to your network.
• Use strong antivirus software: Antivirus software can offer an extra layer of protection by detecting and blocking malware or other harmful activity.
• Utilize Strong, Unique Passwords: Use unique passwords that are difficult to guess for each of your financial accounts A few key things to consider include:
  1. Length and complexity: Aim for passwords that are at least 12 characters long, and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  2. Passphrases: Consider using passphrases; for example, use the first letters of a phrase you will remember to create the password. Example: ‘I was thrilled when my son graduated college in 2025!’ – your password would be: Iwtwmsgci2025!
  3. No reuse: Use unique passwords. Never use your Oppenheimer password as a password anywhere else.

Stay Vigilant Against Phishing Scams:

In phishing scams, cybercriminals will attempt to trick you into providing sensitive information, often through fake emails, texts, or phone calls that can appear to be legitimate. Sometimes these attacks can be difficult to spot as they have become more advanced over time.

• Verify before you click: Always verify the source of an email or text before clicking on links or downloading attachments. If you have any doubt that a sender is not who they claim to be, contact the company or individual directly to confirm the legitimacy of the message.
• Don’t share personal information: Be cautious about sharing personal or financial information over the phone or via email. Legitimate institutions will never ask you for your password or any sensitive information via email.

In an increasingly digital world, staying informed and taking small but meaningful steps can make a big difference in protecting your financial well-being. By implementing these cybersecurity best practices like monitoring your accounts, enabling multi-factor authentication, securing your devices, using strong passwords, and guarding against phishing, you can significantly reduce your risk of cybercrime. National Internet Safety Month is a great opportunity to reassess your digital habits and prioritize security. Together, we can help ensure your financial future remains protected.

You can read more about cybersecurity National Internet Safety Month by visiting the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA) website here.