Risks in the digital world are real and present for everyone, particularly when it comes to guarding financial information against rampant criminal behavior on the internet. “Malspace,” which is an online environment populated by hacker groups, criminal organizations and espionage units, is a growing threat to web users of all types.

Do you often worry about your financial security within the prism of working, socializing and shopping in a largely digital universe? If so, you are not alone.

With increasing risk and complexities in the digital space, it is more important than ever to find, adopt and implement meaningful and workable solutions to help put you at ease so you feel far less scatterbrained and stressed.

Try out the following four simple steps to keep your financial information safe and secure while staying productive, sane and stress-free:

1. Tighten Up Your Password Strategy

One key step toward keeping your banking and other financial information secure is to create strong passwords for your laptop, tablet, phone, online banking and anything else that could allow entry to your valuable information. Use your imagination when coming up with a password that is easy for you to remember but complex enough that it is tough for a hacker to tap into.

Come up with a phrase like “I love to water ski.” Then substitute numbers for words, mix uppercase and lowercase letters and add a symbol, for good measure. Your results may look like “IL2wS*” or something similar. You may need to come up with something slightly more elaborate and longer, depending on the strength and length requirements of the website or device.

2. Invest in Identity Theft Protection

Seeing as anyone is at risk for identity theft in a world filled with opportunists with hacking skills, investing in an ongoing identity theft protection plan is one of the easiest ways to stay protected online. Search for the plan that works best for your budget and security needs. The ideal plan should include services like:

• Alerts when there is a sale for your Social Security number or credit information
• Lost wallet protection
• Address change verification
• Black Market website surveillance

3. Only Share Your Personal Information on Encrypted Websites

It is important that you only divulge your personal information to encrypted websites. Make sure that websites for online shopping and banking feature “https” at the beginning of the address where the “s” stands for “secure.” Additionally, make sure that “https” appears on each page of the website you visit. If any pages are missing encryption, the entire site may be vulnerable.

4. Lock Your Device Anytime You Step Away

It seems like a simple enough step, but it’s just as easy to get distracted by a real-world task and forget to lock your smartphone or laptop. It is important that you do your best to stay mindful and secure your device, especially when you have personally identifiable data pulled up. Unfortunately, and as much as no one likes to consider criminals in their midst, real-space threats can cause just as much damage.

It's Worth the Extra Effort

By diligently adopting some simple safety and budget-friendly measures to secure your devices and accounts, you can rest much easier and focus on the tasks at hand.