Secure Your Digital World

Keys for Success

While October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, protecting yourself requires year-long vigilance. And everyone’s needs vary based on the online tools and resources you use.

Remember, bad actors are increasingly sophisticated—they want access to your information. The FBI offers a few tips for some of the key points of emphasis, and they provide a good starting point for planning your personalized security strategy.

• Create a sturdy defense. Update systems, software, and apps. Also, install a strong, reputable antivirus program.
• Connect carefully. Be cautious when connecting to a public Wi-Fi network. Avoid sensitive transactions, including purchases. Create a strong and unique passphrase for each online account.
• Lock down all accounts. Establish multifactor authentication. Examine the email address in all correspondence and scrutinize website URLs before responding to a message or visiting a site. Don’t click on anything in unsolicited emails or text messages.
• Guard your information. Be cautious about your information in online profiles and social media accounts. Sharing the names of pets, schools, and family members gives scammers hints they need to guess your passwords or the answers to your account security questions. Never send payments to unknown people or organizations, particularly those urging immediate action.