October is Cybersecurity awareness month. There are many steps that can be taken to help protect you and your information from a cyber attack. We have compiled a list of things to help an individual protect themselves. Doing just one of these items on the list is beneficial, but imagine how protected you can be if you did them ALL?
Ways to protect yourself against cyber attacks:
- Limit the personal information you share online. Each app you have on your phone has privacy settings that can be modified. Also, you can limit the use of location features and trackers.
- Keep software applications and operating systems on your devices up-to-date.
- Create strong passwords by using a combincation of UPPER and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. Use a password manager/app to store all your passwords. When applicable, use two methods of verification.
- Watch for suspicious activity and emails that asks you to do something immediately, offers something that is too good to be true, or requests your personal information. When in doubt, do NOT click on a link.
- Protect your home and/or business using a secure Internet connection and Wi-Fi network, and change passwords frequently.
- Don’t share PINs or passwords. Use devices that use biometric scans when possible (e.g. fingerprint scanner or facial recognition).
- Check your account statements and credit reports regularly.
- Be cautious when sharing personal financial information, such as your bank account number, Social Security number or credit card number. Secure sites will begin with “https://”. Do not use sites with invalid certificates. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that creates a more secure connection.
- Use antivirus and anti-malware solutions, and firewalls to block threats on your computers.
- Back up your files regularly in an encrypted file or encrypted file storage device.
- Do not click on links in texts or emails from people you don’t know. Scammers can create fake links to websites designed to trick users.
- Remember that the government will not call, text or contact you via social media about owing money. You can check out a previous Facebook post on this topic HERE.
