Cyber Security Tips

Cyber Security Tips

Ongoing Compliance Education:

To stay safe online, focus on these fundamental practices that address the most common digital threats. 

1. Core Account Protection

Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Create passwords that are at least 12–15 characters long. Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Never reuse the same password across multiple accounts.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Turn on MFA/2FA for all sensitive accounts, especially email, banking, and social media. This adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password.

Use a Password Manager: Tools like Bitwarden, 1Password, or those built into your browser (e.g., Google Password Manager) can generate and store complex, unique passwords for you. 

2. Device & Software Maintenance

Keep Software Updated: Regularly update your operating system, web browsers, and apps to patch security vulnerabilities. Enable automatic updates whenever possible.

Secure Your Wi-Fi: Change the default password and name (SSID) on your home router. Ensure it uses WPA2 or WPA3 encryption.

Be Cautious with Public Wi-Fi: Avoid accessing sensitive accounts (like banking) on public networks. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your connection when using untrusted networks. 

3. Online Behavior & Awareness

Think Before You Click: Be wary of unexpected links or attachments in emails, texts, or social media messages. Hover over links to check the actual destination URL before clicking.

Recognize Phishing: Scammers often use a sense of urgency, fear, or "too good to be true" offers to trick you into revealing personal info.

Limit Oversharing: Be careful about sharing personal details like your home address, phone number, or travel plans on social media, as this information can be used by hackers for targeted attacks.

Back Up Your Data: Regularly back up important files to an external hard drive or a secure cloud service. This is critical for recovery after a ransomware attack. 

Actionable Resources

Check for Breaches: Use services like Have I Been Pwned to see if your email or phone number has been involved in a data breach.

Report Cybercrime: If you are a victim of a cyberattack, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).