Mercury Insurance Emphasizes Cybersecurity Best Practices Amid Rising Cybercrime Rates

"As personal cyberattacks continue to grow in frequency and sophistication, Mercury's supplemental coverage gives policyholders peace of mind," said Adam Bakonis, Senior Product Manager – State, Mercury Insurance. "Our bundled protection can easily be added to homeowners, including condo or renters policies, ensuring consumers have an extra layer of defense."

Here are some practical steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of a cybercrime:

Password Security

• Use strong, unique passwords: Combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid easily guessed information like birthdays, names or common words.
  
  
• Never reuse passwords: Use different passwords for different accounts to limit the damage if one is compromised.
  
  
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, such as a code from your phone to log in.

Online Best Practices

• Be wary of unsolicited communication: Scrutinize emails, texts and calls asking for personal information; legitimate organizations like your bank will not ask for this information.
  
  
• Check website security: Look for "https://" in the web address to ensure the site is secure and encrypts your information.
  
  
• Avoid sensitive tasks on public Wi-Fi: These networks are often unsecured and can expose your data to hackers.
  
  
• Limit personal sharing: Be mindful of what you post on social media or share through online quizzes.
  
  
• Think before you click: Suspicious attachments or pop-ups can lead to malware or phishing scams.

As digital threats continue to evolve, awareness and prevention are more critical than ever. Mercury encourages all consumers to take proactive steps toward online safety, as protecting your digital life is just as important as protecting your home.

"Caution does not replace preparedness," said Bakonis. "Supplemental cybersecurity insurance can provide some much-needed peace of mind."

For more information on Mercury's home cyber protection offering, visit its web page and check out Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) for cybersecurity best practices.

About Mercury Insurance

Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY) is a multiple-line insurance carrier predominantly offering personal auto, homeowners, renters and commercial insurance through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, as well as auto insurance in Florida. Mercury writes other lines of insurance in various states, including commercial, business owners and business auto, landlord, home-sharing, ride-hailing and mechanical protection insurance

Since 1962, Mercury has provided customers with tremendous value for their insurance dollar by pairing ultra-competitive rates with excellent customer service, through more than 4,200 employees and a network of more than 6,340 independent agents in 11 states. Mercury has earned an "A" rating from A.M. Best, as well as "Best Auto Insurance Company" designations from Forbes and Insure.com. For the latest news, please visit the new Mercury Insurance Newsroom at https://newsroom.mercuryinsurance.com/. For further assistance, contact us at newsroom@mercuryinsurance.com. For more information, visit www.MercuryInsurance.com or follow the company on X, Instagram or Facebook.