Good Hygiene For Your Identity

According to a 2025 study by Pew Research Center, roughly 73% of U.S. adults have experienced an online or cyberattack. And cyber-enabled fraud accounted for 45% of the more than 1 million cybercrime complaints the FBI received in 2025 based on their latest Annual Internet Crime Report. The reported cyber-enabled fraud amounted to over $17 billion in victim losses and impacted those over 60 years old the most.

Why is practicing good “identity hygiene” essential to protecting your financial well-being?

Just as daily habits protect our health, simple cybersecurity practices help protect our identities and finances. With cyber-enabled fraud causing billions in losses, especially among older adults, education is the critical first step. Understanding how attackers operate, such as through SIM swap scams, empowers individuals to take ownership of their personal security. Greenleaf Trust supports clients holistically by sharing practical tools to help them safeguard everything they’ve worked to build.

As a holistic wealth management firm, we are compelled to help our clients wholly with matters that can impact their financial lives. Cyber security is definitely one of those. Just like good oral hygiene habits such as brushing and flossing can protect us from cavities, there are habits and practices we all should take to protect us from becoming another victim of a cyberattack. And education on how to protect yourself is the important first step.

That is why we recently conducted a Personal Cyber Hygiene workshop for clients. The workshop was facilitated by Oliver Krings, our Chief Information Security Officer and Privacy Officer. Oliver leads Greenleaf Trust’s Business Information Services Division with the focus on technology strategy, IT Security and Governance. Oliver has over 25 years of IT industry experience along with several technical industry certifications including the Certified Information System Security Professional and the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control.

The format of the workshop used small groups and a collaborative safe environment to first discuss the anatomy of a SIM (subscriber identity module) swap attack. SIM cards are in all mobile phones and identify your phone number, connects your device to a cellular network and stores security keys. A SIM swap attack is a common form of identity theft where criminals trick your mobile provider and you into moving your phone number to a new SIM card they control. Once in their control, they can intercept your text messages and phone calls, bypass security codes and take over your personal and financial accounts.

The workshop focused on helping clients understand how attackers think and operate, so security controls they can easily implement become logical rather than burdensome. With the belief that cybersecurity awareness should change behavior and not simply transfer knowledge, we made sure clients left with tools they could use to take ownership of their personal identity.

At Greenleaf Trust, we believe taking care of our clients means looking beyond their portfolios. It means helping them navigate the real-world challenges that can affect their financial well-being – including the growing threat of cybercrime. Workshops like this are one way we can share practical knowledge, answer questions, and give clients simple steps they can take to better protect themselves and their families. When our clients are more informed and more confident, they’re better equipped to safeguard everything they’ve worked so hard to build. That’s the kind of care and partnership we strive to provide every day, and it’s what holistic wealth management means to us.

The feedback we received from attendees validated our thoughts on continuing these workshops in all of our markets next year.