Keep your retirement account secure
It can take a lifetime to accrue the retirement benefits you have earned. Unfortunately, it can take only one fraudulent scheme for those benefits to be negatively impacted.
Beyond what DRS can do as an organization, it’s a best practice for all of us to take steps to keep our own account information secure.
At DRS, we continue to enhance the security of our systems to protect your accounts. This means you may notice some changes to the website as we roll out these enhancements. Please know that as we do, we closely monitor the impact these changes could have on your experience as we strive to balance ease of use with security.
For example, you can now use an authenticator app or a landline phone as a multi-factor authentication device when logging into the website. We have also made other changes within the site. Soon, we will no longer accept email as an authentication method. If you use email for multi-factor authentication, please log in and set yourself up with one of the other options: text message, authenticator app or phone call.
If you run into any issues using the website or are unable to complete an action on our website, please take a note of any on-screen instructions and feel free to contact us.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Use strong passwords and a password manager: Strong passwords are critical to protecting data. They should be long, random, and unique. You can also use passphrases, which are a combination of random words that are easier to remember. Pick at least four words and string them together. A passphrase with no special characters is stronger than a shorter password with special characters.
Password managers are a powerful tool to help you create long, random, and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Plus, they make storing passwords and user IDs easy. - Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA): Enable multi-factor authentication on all your online accounts that offer it, especially email, social media, and financial accounts. If you are given the option, use authentication apps or hardware tokens, which are more secure than MFA phones.
- Update software: Ensure your software is up-to-date. This is the best way to make sure you have the latest security patches and updates on your devices. Install updates as soon as they become available. When buying Internet-connected technologies, choose devices that auto-update and that are made by brands from trusted countries.
- Trusted help. Technology continues to advance at a rapid pace. Many companies and organizations (like DRS) require their employees to take online cyber security trainings. Ask relatives or friends for tips on what they’re learning.
- Protect your email account. Email is a holy grail for attackers because with access to your email, the attackers can instantly learn about you. Avoid using email services that don’t have modern authentication like MFA and strong security practices. Consider establishing a separate email address only used for your financial accounts (banks, credit cards, credit agencies). Consider using a paid email service that provides additional protection against bad actors. This is a small investment that keeps you better protected.
- Freeze your credit. Set up an account for each of the three credit agencies (Equifax, Experian, and Transunion) and set up a credit freeze. You can temporarily lift the credit freeze when applying for a new credit card, bank account or loan.
- Configure text notifications. Getting notifications from your bank and credit cards when transfers occur or charges are made is helpful in identifying fraud. When following up with your bank, always use their phone number as listed on their website, not what’s in an email or text message sent to you.
See the complete DRS Account Security Checklist.
At DRS, it’s our goal to ensure that members receive the benefits they’ve earned. We take many steps to ensure your account is protected. You can find out more about retirement account security here.
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