Protect Your Accounts
Cybersecurity is important when it comes to protecting your accounts and information from being breached.
Learn how to protect yourself, your family and your business with these tips and resources.
Be Aware. Be Secure.
Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and we each have a part to play. When we all take simple steps to be safer online – at home, in the workplace, and in our communities – it makes using the Internet a more secure experience for everyone.
What can you do to improve your cybersecurity?
Whether it’s strengthening your passwords or treating emails from unknown senders with more caution, you can take a number of steps to reduce the threat of identity theft, online scams, malware, fraud and more. Here’s a cybersecurity checklist to help you get started.
Protect your devices
- Keep your software and browser up to date.
- Run a reputable antivirus product on your computer.
- Only download applications from an official app store and check out the reviews, before you download.
Secure your account logins
- Don’t reuse the same or similar passwords across multiple websites and applications.
- Consider using a password manager, which will create unique, complex passwords for you and then store them in an encrypted state.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to log in to any website or application you use that has access to your financial and personal data.
Think before you click and share
- Don’t click on links or open attachments in unsolicited emails or text messages. Doing so may install malware on your device.
- Be cautious about sharing Personally Identifiable Information (PII) over the phone, in email or via text message, especially if you did not initiate the contact.
- Limit how much information you share on social media and lock down the privacy settings on your accounts. The information you share online could be exploited by fraudsters.
- Only give applications the permissions they really need. Granting an application access to your photos, location, camera, contacts, etc., makes your data and information available to the application owner and can undermine your internet privacy.
Cybersecurity on the go
- Avoid using public Wi-Fi hotspots—like the ones at coffee shops, airports, hotels, etc. Instead, stick to the mobile network and create a personal Wi-Fi hotspot with your phone. If you do use public Wi-Fi, be sure to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) so that others can’t intercept your communications.
- Don’t use publicly available charging cords or USB ports with your devices. These can be used to deliver malware onto your device or steal your data. Always be sure to plug your cord directly into the power source.
Additional Resources