How to Secure and Protect your Fidelity Account

When you invest through Fidelity, protecting your account should be one of your top priorities. Once real money is involved, cybercriminals and scammers may view your account as a target. Fortunately, Fidelity provides several security features that can significantly reduce your risk.

The good news is that it only takes a few minutes to strengthen your account security. In this guide, you’ll learn the most important steps you can take to protect your Fidelity account and keep your investments safe.

Why You Need to Protect Your Fidelity Account

Many investors focus on funding their accounts and buying investments, but they often overlook security settings. Unfortunately, most people only think about account protection after a problem occurs.

By taking a few simple precautions today, you can greatly reduce the chances of unauthorized access, fraud, and identity theft.

If you have money invested or plan to fund your account soon, now is the perfect time to protect your Fidelity account.

How to Access Fidelity Security Settings

To review your security settings in the Fidelity mobile app:

1. Open the Fidelity app.
2. Tap the profile icon in the top-right corner.
3. On the profile page, select Security.
4. You will be taken to the Security Checklist page.

You may occasionally see a message stating that Fidelity cannot display your information at the moment. If that happens, don’t worry. The security settings themselves should still be available and functioning normally.

Turn On Face ID to Protect Your Fidelity Account

How to Enable Face ID

One of the most important security settings available is biometric login.

If your device supports Face ID, enable it immediately. If your phone uses fingerprint authentication instead, enable that feature instead.

Biometric security provides two major benefits:

• Faster login access
• Additional protection against unauthorized users

Without biometric authentication, someone who gains access to your device may have a better chance of accessing your account. Enabling Face ID or fingerprint login is one of the quickest and most effective ways to protect your Fidelity account.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Another valuable security feature is two-factor authentication, commonly known as 2FA.

With 2FA enabled, logging in requires:

• Your password
• A temporary verification code

Authenticator apps such as Google Authenticator generate a unique six-digit code that changes every 30 seconds. This extra layer of security makes it much harder for unauthorized individuals to access your account.

For newer investors, biometric login may be sufficient. However, if you have a larger portfolio balance, enabling an authenticator app is strongly recommended.

Review Other Security Settings

The Security section may also include options such as:

• Session timeout
• Quick access
• Trusted devices

In most cases, the default settings are appropriate.

One setting worth paying attention to is Quick Access. Keeping this feature disabled helps prevent others from viewing account information without logging in.

Use a Strong and Unique Password

A strong password remains one of the foundations of account security.

Avoid reusing passwords from:

• Email accounts
• Streaming services
• Social media platforms
• Other financial websites

Instead, create a unique password specifically for Fidelity. Password managers such as 1Password or Bitwarden can help generate and securely store complex passwords.

Using a unique password is another essential step to protect your Fidelity account from credential-stuffing attacks and data breaches.

Protect Yourself from SIM Swap Attacks

Many people are unaware of SIM swap attacks, yet they can be extremely dangerous.

In a SIM swap attack, criminals attempt to transfer your phone number to a device they control. If successful, they may intercept security codes sent via text message.

To reduce this risk:

• Contact your mobile carrier
• Request a port-out PIN or transfer lock
• Use an authenticator app whenever possible instead of SMS-based verification

Authenticator apps generally provide stronger protection because text messages can potentially be intercepted.

Avoid Phishing Scams

Phishing remains one of the most common ways investors lose access to financial accounts.

Scammers often send emails or text messages pretending to be Fidelity and encouraging users to click a link.

To stay safe:

• Never click links in unexpected emails or texts
• Open the Fidelity app directly
• Log in through Fidelity’s official website or app

Developing this habit can go a long way toward helping you protect your Fidelity account from fraud.

Turn On Account Alerts

Account alerts provide an additional layer of security by notifying you whenever important activity occurs.

To enable alerts:

1. Open the Fidelity app.
2. Go to Profile.
3. Select Settings.
4. Tap Alerts.
5. Enable notifications for account activity.

If an unauthorized transaction or login attempt occurs, you’ll be informed quickly and can take action immediately.

Final Thoughts

It only takes a few minutes to strengthen your account security, but those few minutes can save you from significant headaches later. To protect your Fidelity account, enable biometric login, consider using an authenticator app, create a strong unique password, secure your phone number against SIM swaps, avoid phishing scams, and activate account alerts.

Once you’ve completed these security steps, you’ll have a much safer foundation for managing and growing your investments with confidence.