INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson is advising investors to understand how their personal information is being protected by financial firms as the number of reported cyberattacks increase.

Lawson says an increasing reliance on technology in daily lives could leave sensitive financial information more vulnerable to unwanted viewing or theft without proper safeguards.

Indiana Securities Commissioner Carol Mihalik says investors should talk with their investment professionals about what steps firms are taking to safeguard their information.

Lawson says investors should ask firms whether they have addressed cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, whether they written policies, procedures, or training programs in place regarding safeguarding client information and whether it maintains insurance coverage for cybersecurity.

She says asking such questions are part of due diligence to become an informed investor.