Are you hacker-proof? You might have the strongest passwords, have double-authentication enabled, and set all your social accounts to private, but sometimes that’s still not enough.

No one is guaranteed protection from cyber-attacks. Extortion, identity theft, financial fraud and even cyberbullying are common crimes people face in the digital space. With so much of your life happening online, it’s a total necessity to keep it protected with the right insurance coverage, just as you do your home, car, and health.

The game of life has totally changed. Your digital assets and identity deserve and need to be protected. And cyber insurance is the MUST HAVE coverage for you and your family. Here’s why.

Cybercrime is a rising problem.

Cybercrime is increasing– and criminals aren’t just attacking businesses. Everyday citizens and families are targets, too.

Fast facts on cybercrime

• A report by Juniper Research estimates 33 billion records will be stolen in 2023.
• As of 2020, around 47 percent of American people were the victim of financial identity theft.
• 44 percent of all internet users in the U.S. said they’ve experienced cyberbullying.
• In the last 5 years, a whopping 1.3 billion social media users have been hacked, according to findings sponsored by malware prevention company, Bromium.
• 5.7 million reports were filed to The Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network in 2021. Fraud (49 percent) and identity theft (25 percent) were some of the frequently reported crimes.
• Complaints and losses have increased, according to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Complaints have increased from 301,580 in 2017 to 847,376 in 2021. The estimated losses skyrocketed from 1.4 billion in 2017 to 6.9 billion in 2021. That’s a lot of stolen money!

Many people think they are safe online, but stats clearly tell a different story. Cybercriminals are savvy.

Online impersonation is a cybercrime heavy hitter. Many people think of online impersonation as someone making a fake social account to bully, catfish, or ruin someone’s reputation. But that’s only a small fraction of what really goes on.

Criminals are stealing identities to gain access to funds in clever ways. Some of the most common forms of cyber identity theft include applying for (and/or receiving) government benefits, opening new lines of credit, taking out loans and even committing tax fraud.

More than your finances are at stake, too. Hackers look for any sensitive information to use to extort someone and demand a ransom. Cybercriminals sometimes seek out photos, videos, health data, gaming assets or anything else you find valuable, important, or private.

Any information or data stored or shared online is at risk. Think beyond your cell phone, laptop, or tablet. Your gaming consoles, health devices and even your vehicle could be storing your information via an app or the cloud.

If you’re a parent, you have even more people to worry about. Your kid’s digital footprint probably began long before they ever got on the internet with your “sharenting.”  That birth announcement, those first-year birthday cake smash pics or any cute TikTok you’ve uploaded were the start of your kid’s digital life. Cybercriminals are not only looking for adults to impersonate, steal from, or use for ransom—they’ll use your child’s data too, if the opportunity presents itself.

Children can have their identity stolen, have fraudulent lines of credit opened in their name, or have their baby photos used in a cyberbullying incident years later when they’re a tween.

If it’s on the internet, it’s there forever. Even if you’ve deleted files years ago and have no way to access them yourself, they still exist somewhere. Someone with tech skills and malicious intent could use them for their gain.  

If you’re online, you’re vulnerable to attack. The best way to protect yourself and your family is by investing in cyber insurance protection.

Because cybercrime takes many forms, the consequences can be huge

So many awful things can happen to you online, and the consequences could hit you financially, emotionally, mentally, and even physically.

Take cyberbullying. It can create anxiety, depression and worse. Online bullying could lead to longer-term issues like lowered self-esteem and decreased confidence that can impact someone’s quality of life. A child who is bullied online may beg to change schools or move to a new town and may need mental health support.

• Cyber insurance may be able to help in this situation. Depending on the policy you choose, you may get coverage to help cover psychiatric expenses or relocation costs.

A legit-looking email could pop into your inbox with someone claiming to be “support” from a payment app you use. Without thinking twice, you provide personal information that allows a hacker to rack up thousands in your name.

• In some cases, you may end up in a long, drawn-out legal battle fighting identity theft and financial fraud. Cyber insurance could help you cover lawyer fees and cover your earnings while you take time off to fight the good fight.

You’re unwinding from a long day’s work by gaming with your crew. Not really thinking, you install ransomware by clicking an in-game link. Oops! Your private files are now encrypted and being deleted one by one until you pay a ransom.

• If you have cyber protection insurance, you may be able to recoup some or all the sums you paid in ransom or may have coverage for fees and expenses paid to lawyers, reputation management firms, consulates, or digital forensic analysts to clean up the mess that one click made.

These are situations that can happen to virtually anyone. No one is on their A-game 24/7. When you’re busy online, it’s hard to scrutinize everything that crosses your screen. 

How Blink by Chubb Can Help

Here’s the bottom line: if you do anything online—which of course you do, since you’re reading this article—then you need cyber protection insurance. Our cyber insurance coverage can help protect you while you work and play the online game of life to its fullest.

The Blink Cyber Insurance Policy covers these common cyber risks

• Cyber extortion
• Cyber financial fraud
• Deceptive transfer fraud
• Cyber breach of privacy
• Cyber bullying
• Cyber disruption
• Identity theft
• Electronic data restoration
• Electronic device replacement

Some highlights of Blink’s insurance offering

• Plans starting as low as $5.28 per month.
• Automatic coverage for you, your spouse or partner, any family members who live with you, and your dependent children (up to 24 years old).
• You can add up to five households to your policy for an additional cost if you share devices, software, or digital accounts with them.
• You’ll have a dedicated cyber-response specialist helping you through the recovery process in the event of a covered claim —so you won’t get lost in the shuffle moving from agent to agent.
• Choose a coverage with a deductible that works for your budget and needs. BONUS: Identity Theft coverage is deductible-free.
• Coverage is available in almost every state. Sorry Florida, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont—we’re working on it! We promise.

Scoop up your cyber protection insurance before you need it! So, when you do need it, it’s there. Get your free cyber insurance quote in minutes today.