Step 1 – Use a Password Manager
Please don’t be that corny old-school being in 2026 who is still using that ONE special password with many tweaks and has to *remember* all passwords. Use a reputed, paid password manager. Bitwarden, 1Password, LastPass are some of the best options. Would not recommend using default password managers from Google or Apple, in order to diversify the risk. Finally, once you have a password manager – run a security scan and change all weak, re-used passwords.
Tip: Go for a family plan instead of individual & completely foolproof password management for your entire family. If you are still sharing passwords with your family members using your favorite messenger (iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram), you are bound to run into trouble at some point!
Step 2 – Use a VPN while connecting to untrusted public Wi-Fi
This timeless anomaly is still rampant and a major security glitch. If you are outside, resist the “public Wi-Fi temptation” & try using the mobile hotspot. If you can’t, use a reputed VPN and then connect to the public Wi-Fi.
Tip: If you use GoogleOne to buy extra space for your Gmail account, you can use GoogleOne’s free VPN.
Step 3 – Freeze your credit when not using it
Use this super informative NerdWallet article to freeze your credit, if you are not using it. It is completely free to do it across all 3 credit bureaus.
Tip: Remember to freeze your credit, not lock. Freeze is more secure and always free.
Step 4 – Use SSN monitoring services
When we have so many reliable zero cost options like Capital One’s CreditWise or Experian to monitor your credit for free, it is a cardinal sin to not use them! And you can use more than one, that’s what I do as well.
Tip: Your employers might offer complimentary Dark Web Monitoring services too. HealthEquity is one such administrator which offers professional grade identity monitoring for free.
Step 5 – Get phone & email alert for every financial transaction
Every reputed credit card company offers alert notifications. Sign up to get notified about every transaction – debit & credit cards, bank accounts, crypto wallets; and enable the alerts both on your email & phone. The earlier you catch a compromised card, lower the damage & the headache.
Tip: If your credit card provider does not offer alerting features, you can use alerting services from the payment networks itself – Visa offers one. I couldn’t find Mastercard offering similar feature though.
Step 6 – Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) using authenticator apps & not text
Everyone knows to use MFA for your critical accounts. But do you know NIST deprecated use of text/SMS as additional factor in 2016?! So, switch to authenticator apps (best) or emails (second best) and stop using SMS/text as the MFA. Apple has a native Authenticator app you can use and for Android users, Google Authenticator is the most simple, reliable option.
Important: What happens if you use authenticator apps & you lose the phone they are setup on? Don’t worry, both Google and Apple authenticators offer a way to back-up and restore it from your main profile.
Step 7 – Make sure all your family phones & tablets are managed in Find My Device app
If you ever accidentally lose the device, you can lock and reset the device immediately using native iOS and Android apps.
Further Reads:
– Great blog on updated Password Guidelines issued by NIST
– FTC’s customer security portal has some latest and greatest content on consumer security.
Step 8 – Monitor your Wi-Fi and assess all connected devices
Every reputed router has a management mobile app these days where you can monitor all connected devices. Every now and then, scan the network and check all connected devices and ensure they are known ones! You can check this page too for a ton of other info on this topic.
That’s it. Signing off with the Unruffled Life Pro Tip:
Ever heard of Memory Dividends?
Bill Perkins, an acclaimed energy trader coined the Memory Dividends phrase in his book Die with Zero. Would highly recommend the book and the art of creating memory dividends.
Disclaimer: The intent behind this post & any other material on this portal is to help our readers cultivate total wealth of health, money, time & social life (in that order) – essentially amplifying the joy and contentment in life. None of the content substitutes professional financial, tax, legal, health, home care or any other kind of advice. Please perform your own due diligence before acting on any of the ideas & material shared here.
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