Fidelity Investments: A Safe And Secure Site?

Fidelity Investments is one of the world's largest and most well-respected investment companies, with a 75-year history of providing secure and reliable financial services. The company offers a range of security measures to protect its customers' personal and financial information, including strong website encryption, stringent security protocols, and 2-factor authentication. Additionally, Fidelity's Customer Protection Guarantee ensures that customers are reimbursed for any financial losses resulting from unauthorized activity on their accounts. The company also participates in asset protection programs such as FDIC and SIPC to further safeguard its customers' investments. With its extensive security measures and commitment to customer protection, Fidelity Investments provides a secure platform for individuals looking to invest and grow their money.

Fidelity's security measures

Fidelity Investments is one of the world's largest and most well-respected investment companies with a history spanning over 75 years of providing secure and reliable financial services. The company secures every facet of its business to protect the trust of its customers and clients who rely on it to safeguard their information and assets.

• A dedicated team of cybersecurity professionals and security integrated into its business, technology, and culture. The company's cybersecurity program meets high industry standards and has achieved multiple certifications. It continuously monitors the environment to evolve its program to guard against the latest threats and meet its customers' and clients' changing needs.
• An extensive range of safeguards, multiple layers of security, and 24/7 surveillance to secure networks, and customers' data and interactions. Some protections are visible by design, while others are not. This includes network security controls such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, proxy servers, advanced anti-malware, and denial-of-service protection.
• Vigilant monitoring of all work areas to prevent theft or unauthorized use of sensitive information. Only authorized persons with security badges can enter work areas. Professional security personnel staff offices, campuses, and data centers 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
• Associate education to ensure that associates understand their role in protecting the company and customer accounts and adhere to security policies. Regular training is provided for all personnel on data protection, with specialized training for certain roles. Associates who work directly with customers receive extra education on the latest methods used by criminals for identity theft and fraud.
• Legal and regulatory compliance with corporate-level policies and procedures designed to ensure awareness of and compliance with applicable technology, security, and privacy laws, and regulations.
• Account monitoring and protection: Fidelity always verifies customers' identities before allowing access to accounts and monitors all transactions for suspicious or unusual behavior. It also helps customers keep an eye on their account activity with automated alerts and encourages them to add an extra layer of protection by enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Secure connection for sharing account data with third-party websites and applications, called Fidelity Access. With Fidelity Access, customers can share their account data without providing their username and password to third parties. They can also use the data-sharing dashboard to remove a third party's authorization.
• Strong encryption, firewalls, secure email, and proactive 24/7 system surveillance to safeguard accounts.
• Money transfer lockdown, which allows customers to instantly lock their accounts and block electronic money movement, protecting balances from unauthorized transfers.
• Security text alerts that provide instant security alerts on mobile numbers when certain transactions or profile updates are made to an account.
• Voice biometrics: Fidelity uses voice biometric technology to verify clients by voiceprint over the phone or through any microphone-enabled digital device.
• Reimbursement for any financial losses resulting from unauthorized activity in covered accounts through the Fidelity Customer Protection Guarantee.
• Participation in asset protection programs such as FDIC and SIPC to help provide the best service possible.

Protecting your personal and financial information

Fidelity is committed to protecting your personal and financial information from fraud and unauthorized access. They use a number of security measures to achieve this, including strong website encryption, stringent security protocols, and the latest technology to help protect your personal information and financial transactions.

Fidelity's security measures include:

• Multi-factor authentication: This adds an extra layer of protection during logins and sensitive transactions by sending a push notification or security code to verify your identity.
• Money transfer lockdown: You can instantly lock your accounts to block electronic money movement and protect your balances from unauthorized transfers.
• Security text alerts: You can receive instant security alerts on your mobile phone when certain transactions or profile updates are made to your account.
• Voice biometrics: Fidelity uses voice biometric technology to verify your identity over the phone or through any microphone-enabled digital device.
• Fidelity Access: This is a secure connection that controls how third-party websites and applications access your Fidelity account data. With Fidelity Access, you don't need to provide your username and password to third parties.
• Associate education: Fidelity ensures that its associates understand their role in protecting the company and customer accounts, and adhere to security policies. They receive regular training on data protection, with specialized training for certain roles.
• Legal and regulatory compliance: Fidelity has corporate-level policies and procedures in place to ensure compliance with technology, security, and privacy laws and regulations.
• Network security: Fidelity implements industry-standard network security controls, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, proxy servers, advanced anti-malware, and denial of service protection.
• Physical security: Fidelity offices, campuses, and data centers are staffed with professional security personnel 24/7. Authorized persons can only enter work areas using a security badge, and all work areas are monitored to prevent theft or unauthorized use of sensitive information.

In addition to these measures, Fidelity offers a Customer Protection Guarantee, where they will reimburse you for any financial losses resulting from unauthorized activity in your accounts, providing you with peace of mind.

Fidelity's Customer Protection Guarantee

Fidelity is proud to offer its Customer Protection Guarantee to give its customers peace of mind when doing business with them. This guarantee ensures that customers are reimbursed for any financial losses resulting from unauthorized activity in their Covered Accounts, as long as the customer is not at fault. Covered Accounts include Fidelity brokerage accounts, Fidelity Crypto accounts, and Fidelity retirement plan accounts (e.g., 401(k), 403(b), 457, or profit-sharing plans).

To be eligible for the guarantee, customers must frequently check their account information and review correspondence, account statements, confirmations, and alerts promptly, and no later than 30 days after the information is posted or delivered. Customers must also maintain up-to-date contact information and immediately report any suspected unauthorized account activity, errors, or discrepancies.

Fidelity recommends several additional measures to protect customer accounts, including the use of multi-factor authentication, money transfer lockdown, security text alerts, and voice biometrics. The company also advises customers to boost their login protection, take precautions at home, monitor their accounts, and look out for suspicious emails and browsing activity.

Fidelity takes the security of its customers' information and assets seriously and employs a dedicated team of cybersecurity professionals. The company integrates security into its business, technology, and culture and continuously monitors the environment to evolve its program to guard against the latest threats and meet its customers' changing needs.

How to protect your accounts

Fidelity Investments is committed to safeguarding your accounts with strong encryption, firewalls, secure email, and proactive 24/7 system surveillance. They also offer extra security measures such as multi-factor authentication, money transfer lockdown, security text alerts, and voice biometrics.

Use Strong Passwords

It is important to use strong, different passwords for each of your online accounts. Avoid using the same username or password for Fidelity and other online sites, as this could put your accounts at risk.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Add an extra layer of protection to your account by enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA). This provides extra protection during logins and sensitive transactions, as you will receive a push notification or security code to verify your identity.

Monitor Your Accounts

Regularly review your account activity and look out for any suspicious or unusual behaviour. Fidelity monitors transactions and provides automated alerts to help you keep an eye on your accounts.

Take Precautions at Home

Ensure the security of your personal devices and internet connection. Use trusted devices and secure networks when accessing your Fidelity accounts, and avoid public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks.

Look Out for Suspicious Emails

Be cautious of unsolicited requests for information. Fidelity will never contact you through unsolicited communications to ask for personal information such as login credentials or security codes. Do not voluntarily provide this information unless you have initiated contact with them through their official channels.

Browse with Vigilance

Be vigilant when browsing the internet and avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unknown files. Keep your browser and security software up to date, and only input your personal or account information on secure websites.

Protect Your Loved Ones

Educate your family members about online security and the potential risks of financial exploitation and elder fraud. Encourage them to follow secure practices when accessing their accounts and sharing personal information.

By following these steps and utilizing the security features offered by Fidelity, you can enhance the protection of your accounts and help prevent unauthorized access or fraudulent activities.

Fidelity's commitment to security

Fidelity is committed to ensuring the security of its customers' personal and financial information. The company achieves this through a variety of measures, including:

• Strong encryption and firewalls: Fidelity uses strong website encryption to protect customer data and employs stringent security protocols.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Customers can enable MFA, which provides an extra layer of protection during logins and sensitive transactions.
• Security text alerts: Customers can receive instant security alerts on their mobile phones when certain transactions or profile updates are made.
• Voice biometrics: Fidelity uses voice biometric technology to verify clients' identities over the phone or through any microphone-enabled digital device.
• Fidelity Access: This feature allows customers to share their account data with third-party websites and applications without providing their Fidelity username and password.
• Legal and regulatory compliance: The company has corporate-level policies and procedures in place to ensure compliance with applicable technology, security, and privacy laws and regulations.
• Associate education: Fidelity takes a holistic approach to security, ensuring that its associates understand their role in protecting the company and customer accounts and adhere to security policies.
• Network security: Fidelity implements a large number of industry-standard network security controls, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, proxy servers, advanced anti-malware, and denial of service protection.
• Physical security: The company vigilantly monitors all work areas to prevent theft or unauthorized use of sensitive information. Authorized persons can only enter work areas with a security badge, and professional security personnel staff offices, campuses, and data centers 24/7.

Fidelity also offers the Fidelity Customer Protection Guarantee, which reimburses customers for any financial losses resulting from unauthorized activity in their accounts, providing peace of mind and demonstrating the company's commitment to security.

Frequently asked questions