This article originally appeared on CNB.com.
In a 2017 Campden Research study, 38 percent of ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families, family offices and family businesses internationally, with an average wealth of US$1.1 billion, reported they didn’t have a cyber security plan in place.
If you fall into that category, you could potentially be more vulnerable to an attack by savvy cyber thieves.
“Hackers that target high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) have done their homework,” says Stacy Bertrand, manager of information security strategy and metrics at City National Bank, an RBC company. “They know they have money and that they have something to steal.”
But it’s not just financial resources that make these families more vulnerable to a cyberattack. It’s also often their public status and lifestyle choices that may make them more susceptible.
Lifestyle cues used for social engineering attacks
Social engineering involves the use of social media to mine your information. Hackers can gain clues about things like wealth status, property ownership and investments through private details that individuals choose to share publicly on social media.
“Cybercriminals are using increasingly sophisticated techniques to trick people into giving up personal or private information,” says Adam Evans, vice president of cyber operations and chief information security officer at RBC in Toronto. “They then use that information to target new attacks against these victims. Social engineering tactics can be used in any sort of personal contact, including email, texting, web browsing or by telephone.”
Setting ground rules for social media use with your family members can be an effective way to combat the social engineering threat. For instance, you may wish to restrict the types of photos or information shared through social media, or insist family members set their account visibility to private-only.
In a recent survey of attitudes to cyber security and the financial industry, RBC partnered with Ipsos to gain more insight into concerns about cyber security and the steps that can be taken for protection.
While 77 percent of respondents believe they are knowledgeable on cyber security, only 16 percent could identify the majority of cyber terms correctly. Nearly two-thirds (61 percent) could not identify the term “phishing”, which describes an email designed to trick the recipient into clicking a link or opening an attachment in an effort to steal information or install malicious software.
“As our world becomes increasingly connected through the internet of things, there are more reasons to learn how to protect yourself and your data,” says Laurie Pezzente, chief security officer & senior vice president of Global Cyber Security at RBC.
Public status adds risk
In general, says Bertrand, high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) are more searchable online. Someone who owns a company, holds a C-suite position, frequently makes large donations to charity or as a public figure has a highly-visible online presence, making it easier for cyber thieves to profile them as potential victims.
“Hackers are able to perform sophisticated spear-phishing attacks with the information they receive from searching the internet,” says Bertrand. Spear-phishing involves the use of fake emails which lure you into clicking a link, downloading a file or sharing sensitive personal or financial information that can be easily exploited.
Phishing emails can be used to infect computers with malware and to guard against this type of risk, it’s always best to take the “better safe than sorry” approach and pick up the phone to verify that the email is actually coming from the person you believe it is.
Lack of centralization can make cyberattacks easier
Having a broad network of people who aid in managing your wealth can also be a boon for hackers.
“Typically, clients we work with have a financial team,” says Bertrand. “Because more people are potentially involved managing various aspects of your financial plan, hackers have more wiggle room to build convincing stories that do not need to be verified.”
Bertrand offers two tips for protecting yourself when you have a larger team, or widespread assets.
First, “high-net-worth individuals need to develop a ‘trust but verify’ process,” she explains. “This means that people or companies who work with these individuals need to know what they are allowed to approve and what they need to call and verify.” In the best-case scenario, employees should verify all emails and phone calls with you prior to transferring money.
The second tip is to understand where your assets are held. You don’t necessarily need to aggregate all your assets in one place, but you should have visibility and transparency with regard to where your accounts are located and what’s in them.
High-net-worth households have the means to pay
The use of ransomware — a software program which blocks access to systems or data until a ransom is paid — also poses a threat to HNWIs and, while businesses are often the target, individuals and family offices aren’t immune.
Because HNW households have the resources to pay the ransom, cyber thieves are betting many of these individuals would prefer to pay up rather than deal with a locked computer.
Preventing ransomware begins with protecting your personal and financial details and ensuring basic security practices are followed down the line by employees and any other individuals who have access to your information.
Luxury locations are a target for wireless spoofing
When you’re travelling, you may find yourself using public and open wireless networks or hotspots to get online. But these networks are particularly unsecured, even when they require a password. Hackers are taking advantage of this fact and targeting luxury hotels and airport lounges where they know HNWIs will be using their laptops and phones.
Never log in to password-protected websites that contain sensitive data, such as your bank accounts, social media channels or email, when using public Wi-Fi. If you need to use a Wi-Fi hotspot, consider using a virtual private network (VPN) to secure your connection.
Recognizing and understanding the various ways in which you may be a target of cyber fraud is an important step in protecting your assets. With this knowledge you can have a conversation with the professionals who are managing your assets to ensure they’re properly equipped to identify and handle a cyber threat. You’ll also be able to take your own precautions so you don’t unknowingly make it easy for a cyber thief to target you.
This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.
