Three Cybersecurity Tips from the 2025 Annual Meeting

At Jovia’s 86th Annual Meeting held on April 24th at the Crest Hollow, I had the opportunity to address our membership and provide an update on a topic I am deeply passionate about – cybersecurity I began by expressing my gratitude for our CEO, John Deieso, who has empowered our cybersecurity team with the resources, autonomy, and executive backing we need to stay ahead of today’s threats. It’s a level of support that many of my peers in other organizations can only hope for, and it’s a big part of why I believe Jovia is so well protected.

While cybercriminals certainly target institutions like Jovia, they are increasingly turning their attention to individuals- exploiting trust, technology, and everyday behaviors to carry out scams and breaches. That’s why I shared three practical cyber hygiene habits that anyone, regardless of technical background, can implement right now to protect themselves and their families.
 

1. Beware of Voice Deepfakes 

Scammers are now using AI-generated voice technology to impersonate loved ones and coworkers. These deepfakes can sound strangely real. 

According to a 2024 Censuswide survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers, reported by Hiya, 1 in 3 Americans received a deepfake scam call last year. Worse yet, 34% of those targeted lost money, with an average loss of over $7,000.

What you can do:

If you receive a suspicious or emotional call, especially one asking for money or urgent action — hang up and call back using a trusted number. Agreeing on a family “code phrase” ahead of time can also help confirm someone’s identity under duress. Or ask something personal like, “What did I buy you for your 14th birthday?” — that only they would know.
 

2. Email Is the Skeleton Key to Your Life — Protect It

Your email account is more than just a communication tool. It’s the gateway to your bank accounts, subscriptions, tax documents, and more.

The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) reported 3,158 data compromises in 2024, affecting over 1.3 billion individual accounts. Most of these breaches involved stolen credentials like email addresses and passwords — and five mega-breaches alone accounted for 83% of victim notices. When email is compromised, everything else becomes vulnerable.

What you can do:

  • Use a strong, unique password for your email account.
  • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  • Regularly check your account recovery settings to ensure they’re current.
  • Use tools like Dropbox or Google Drive to send documents with sensitive information, where you can set and control access permissions.

And here’s something new:

Jovia will soon offer a free Dark Web Monitoring service to all members. We’ll monitor the email address you use for Digital and Online Banking and alert you if it appears in a known data breach — an extra layer of protection, at no cost to you.
 

3. Restart Your Phone Once a Week — Yes, Really

The NSA recommends rebooting your smartphone weekly. Why? It disrupts certain types of spyware and zero-click attacks that may live only in temporary memory.

What you can do:

Build it into your weekend routine — Sunday morning coffee and a quick phone reboot.

These tips weren’t chosen because they’re flashy — they were chosen because they work. They’re relevant. And they meet people where they are. Not everyone works in cybersecurity but everyone uses a phone, an email account, and answers calls from family.

At Jovia, we will continue to lead in organizational cybersecurity — but protecting our members means helping them stay cybersafe outside the walls of the credit union too. 

And finally, thank you to the member who asked me this question during the meeting:

“Which is more secure — iPhone, Android, or Microsoft?”

Here’s the real answer: Smartphones, in general, are more secure than traditional Microsoft systems. They have a smaller attack surface and are more difficult to compromise for long-term effects -thanks to stronger app sandboxing, frequent automatic updates, and built-in hardware security features.

And of course, I proudly said: “Android.”

Why? Because I was the Chief Security Officer for a company whose Android phone is on display at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.

If you want to see security in action — it’s right there behind the glass. 😉

Let’s stay cybersafe — together.

 

 

By Daniel Ford, D.Sc., Chief Information Security & Risk Officer, Jovia Financial Credit Union