MPI values your trust in us to protect your personal information, and we’re committed to safeguarding that information with a sound mix of technology, processes and awareness.
Cyber criminals want your information to commit different kind of frauds including identity thefts. You can help prevent cyber criminals from obtaining personal and valuable information by following simple cyber security tips:
Choose strong passwords
- Your password is your digital key that could unlock a world of lucrative information for cyber criminals.
- Never share your passwords with anyone. If you’re afraid of losing it, use a password manager instead.
- Change passwords on a regular basis.
- Always change default passwords (router password, home control system, etc.).
- Enable multi-factor authentication where possible.
- Choose long and strong passwords. A good tip is to create pass phrases instead of a single word; use a mixture of capital letters, small letters, numbers and special characters such @#%$&
- Avoid common dictionary words or easy to guess passwords like “password” or “user” or “Admin123”.
- Use passphrases instead of a dictionary word. Try to use the first letter from any sentence of your favorite book, quote, or song. This makes it easy to remember and hard to guess.
Follow safe online practices
- Use only official and legitimate websites to transact with vendors and organizations.
- Do not click on a link sent through email, text message, or within social media messages. Instead, type the address into your browser.
Protect yourself from phishing and ransomware attacks
- Be cautious about e-mails requiring urgent action, promising unexpected rewards or threatening. If it is too good to be true, then it probably is.
- Do not open e-mail attachments from unknown senders.
- Always keep your software up to date. Software companies routinely improve the security of their programs and deliver them through “updates”.
- Only download updates from a verifiable source, like the makers of the software.
Understand secure email and spamming
- Do not use your work e-mail on public websites or for personal communications.
- Do not transfer chain e-mails; break the spamming chain and gain trust.
- Do not send confidential information through e-mails, it can be easily intercepted and read.
- Do not reply to spam emails or click on unsubscribe buttons in those e-mails. Instead, mark them as spam or block them.
Be cautious using public Wi-Fi
- Free public Wi-Fi found at restaurants, malls and airports are also used by malicious users and criminals to intercept the information you send and receive. This could include your personal information, user ID and password, your banking and credit card information, etc.
- Avoid conducting online banking and shopping using public Wi-Fi. Instead, use a private Wi-Fi network (like at home) or switch to mobile data.
- Avoid conducting personal or financial transactions on public Wi-Fi.
- Consider using a Virtual Private Network app, also known as VPN.
Think twice about how “social” you are on various platforms
- Limit the amount and types of information you share on social media platforms; the more detailed information you share the more vulnerable you become.
- Sharing personal information online may give criminals sufficient information to access your online accounts such as email, online banking and shopping accounts.
- You must also control who can see your information by updating your privacy settings.
Download safely
- Do not download unauthorized software or files as these can get you or your organization into troubles and serious breaches.
Maintain data privacy
- Do not disclose or share your personal (such as driver’s license number) or customer data with unauthorized people.
- Do not send money, disclose your financial information to anyone — particularly someone you haven’t met in person.
Adhere to mobile safety tips
- Download applications only from well-known app stores.
- Check for authenticity of the apps by referring to download numbers, comments, reviews and ratings.
Perform regular backups
- Make regular backups of your data and test them.
- Protect data stored on removable media.