9 Ways To Avoid Being Hacked in 2025
Reduce the chances of hackers accessing your financial and personal information by taking these steps.
Takeaways:
- Hackers seek your banking and credit card account numbers and login details to gain access to your accounts or sell your information to others.
- Hackers look for predictable vulnerabilities, so use strong passwords, don't respond to links inside fake emails or texts, and keep your devices up to date.
- You might think you're not important enough to be hacked. However, hackers want to access your bank account to steal any amount of money or obtain your personal information to sell to others or hack into other people's accounts.
We've all heard about how a scammer hijacked a friend's Facebook account, drained a cousin's bank account or locked up a computer using ransomware. Getting hacked isn't just something that happens in spy thrillers. It happens to regular people every day.
Hackers are continually refining their strategies as users become more savvy, to the point that about one-third of U.S. adults have experienced a hacked online personal account, according to a 2025 Pew study.
The good news is that hackers usually look for easy targets, much like the thief targeting homes with an open door. With some planning and practice, you can make your finances a lot harder to break open, even if you're not a tech expert.
1. Improve Your Passwords
Weak or reused passwords are a top way personal and business accounts get hacked. Hackers may guess your password if it's too easy. If a password is reused, the hackers can gain access to all sites using that password simultaneously.
According to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a strong password is:
- Unique: Used for one and only one account.
- Long: At least 16 characters or longer.
- Random: A string of mixed-case letters, numbers and symbols or a phrase of four to seven random, absurd or memorable words.
Remembering dozens or hundreds of passwords is impossible for most people. Use a password manager, a secure app unlockable with a single unique password you remember.
According to CISA, a good digital password manager creates complicated passwords for you. The manager also stores and fills in passwords automatically. Consumer Reports has ranked the best password managers in the past.
Don't use a best friend or loved one as a human password manager or otherwise share your password. You never know how relationships might change in the future.
2. Turn On Alerts and Authentication
Two-factor authentication and one-time passcodes help confirm your identity. Both add an extra barrier of protection to your accounts. Even if someone learns or hacks your password, they'll also need a code that your phone or an app will receive to log in.
Depending on the website, you may be able to choose between text message codes, automated calls or an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator, Authy or Microsoft Authenticator).
Meanwhile, account alerts can notify you of checking or savings account activity that you didn't approve. You can sign up for notifications from your financial institution of large deposits or withdrawals, via text or email.
3. Watch Out for Scams and Fake Emails
Phishing is a widespread attempt to trick you into handing over money or your information using links or calls. All age groups are targeted by scam calls, texts and emails at least once a week, according to Pew.
Be skeptical if you get a message with:
- Bad spelling, grammar and strange language.
- "Urgent" messages asking you to act fast.
- Links or attachments (such as a PDF) of any kind.
- Phone calls from local or international numbers you don't recognize.
If something looks suspicious, don't click on or provide information over a call. Even if the call sounds like a friend, loved one or a legitimate business, call them back at a phone number you know to be correct or that you look up yourself. Don't use the number they provide or that appears on your phone.
4. Run Updates
You likely receive numerous notifications each year to update your phone, computer or browser. Updates aren't just about new emojis or improving your phone's performance. Updates also include engineered security responses to holes that hackers can exploit.
Turn on automatic updates for your computer, phone and apps, and don't forget devices like your Wi-Fi router, smart thermostats and other smart devices. Many will take place overnight, but restart your device if necessary, so updates actually install.
If you receive a notification by email or text to update a device, don't click on any links. Instead, go directly to the app, website or utility area of the device and look for updates there.
5. Secure Smart Home Devices
In many ways, securing smart home devices relies on the same techniques as any other device. However, many people don't consider devices as potential hacking targets. Hackers may want to access your devices to snoop on your life, steal logins and passwords or otherwise cause financial damage.
Smart home devices include:
- Wi-Fi routers
- Home security cameras
- Smart TVs
- Smart thermostats
- Baby or pet cameras
- Voice assistant devices
In all cases, ensure that you set up the device's built-in security, change the default login and password, use two-factor authentication and disable any unused features, such as remote management.
6. Practice Safe Internet Hygiene
Use a strong password for your home Wi-Fi, and only download apps from official app stores, such as the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Don't assume antivirus software will save the day, either. Most hacks occur when people click on fake links or divulge sensitive information. Paid antivirus versions may add extras, but they're not magical.
A VPN is helpful if you frequently use public Wi-Fi (such as in coffee shops or airports) and need to perform banking or shopping transactions. A VPN is a tool that creates a secure, private network connection while you use a public network.
Don't overshare on social media that is open to the public. Hackers can use your birthday, pet's name, childhood teachers or current school to guess passwords.
The padlock symbol does not necessarily mean a site is safe. Hackers can fake a secure connection.
7. Guard Your Phone
Phones are just as desirable to hackers as our computers, and sometimes more so, due to the data stored on our phones, including notes, photos and apps. According to the Pew survey, 92% of respondents reported that scams delivered via text messages and phone calls are a significant problem.
Even if you always have your phone nearby, consider locking it with a PIN, fingerprint or Face ID. Avoid downloading random apps from links or unknown sites. Apps can easily be configured to steal your data.
If you receive numerous calls and it's becoming difficult to determine whether a caller is a scammer or a legitimate business, consider adding yourself to the National Do Not Call Registry. Registering should decrease the calls you receive.
8. Back Up Important Documents
Imagine losing all your photos, legal documents, and contacts with one hack.
The 3-2-1 rule (PDF) may be a helpful way to ensure your document safety:
- Three copies of files: One primary file and two backup files.
- Two copies of files get stored in different media or physical places.
- One copy is kept outside your home, like in the cloud or a safe-deposit box.
9. Wipe Personal Information From Phones and Laptops
Phones and laptops can be the equivalent of modern-day treasure chests for a hacker. Before selling, donating or recycling either one, erase the data on the device and restore factory settings, or how the device came when you first received it.
FAQ
Q: How Do I Know If I've Been Hacked?
Signs that you've been hacked might include strange withdrawals or charges from your banking accounts or on your credit cards, logins from unknown places, friends saying you sent them weird messages or messages asking for money. Also, look for signs of identity theft, including new accounts and bills for services you didn't sign up for.
Q: Mac vs. PC: Which Is Safer?
Some people believe Macs are safer. This was once true because PCs were the common targets, as they were more widely used for personal and business purposes. As Macs have increased in popularity, they're also under attack. In all cases, update your laptop and work and home computers. Strong passwords and caution will make a bigger difference than computer brand or operating system. Either way, watch out for tech support scams that some hackers use to get you to call a phone number when you need help then steal your personal information.
Q: Is There a Way to Protect My Financial Information?
Beyond basic steps like using a strong password, you can also request a credit freeze. A credit freeze is a free way to restrict identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name. However, it will also stop you from opening new credit card accounts or getting a car loan. If you want to apply for credit, you'll use a PIN to lift the freeze. Each bureau will provide you with a unique PIN. Store the PINs in your password manager or in a secure location.
The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public; it does not give personalized financial, tax, investment, legal, or other business and professional advice. Before taking any action, you should always seek the assistance of a professional who knows your particular situation when making financial, legal, tax, investment, or any other business and professional decisions that affect you and/or your business.
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Lora Shinn
Contributor