Cyberattacks are becoming more prevalent and sophisticated each year. With so much of daily life conducted online, it’s more important than ever to protect yourself from cybercriminals. This article outlines 10 ways to help stay safe from scammers.
- Keep Your Data Close: Limit the personal data you share online. Only share this data with trusted sources.
- Stay Vigilant to Scams: Be aware that cyberattacks and scams can oc- cur via computers and phones, including text messages.
- Keep Software Updated: Update your devices’ operating software to the latest versions for improved cybersecurity.
- Make Passwords Unique: Create unique passwords for each website you use. Make these passwords strong by us- ing uppercase letters, special characters and numbers.
- Use Two-factor Authentication: Use two-factor authentication whenever pos- sible, which involves verifying your identity in multiple ways before logging into an account.
- Watch Your Accounts: Monitor your personal accounts regularly, such as banking statements and credit reports, for any suspicious activity.
- Be Wary of Public Wi-Fi Connections: Conduct online business operations (i.e., any- thing involving personal information) on secure internet networks rather than public Wi-Fi connections.
- Keep Your Login Credentials Private: Never share personal information, such as usernames and passwords, with anyone who asks for it in a phone call or email, even if the contact seems reputable. Reach out to the appropriate individual or institution directly if you’re unsure whether the correspondence was fraudulent.
- Be Careful Where You Click: Never click on suspicious links in emails or texts, regardless of the sender. Scammers can spoof email addresses and phone numbers, so reach out to the purported sender directly be- fore clicking on a link.
- Stay Skeptical of Suspicious Messages: Know that the government (e.g., the IRS) will never call or text you about owing money.
These are only some of the ways you can stay safe online. Reach out to learn more about cyberattacks, including what to do if you fall victim to one.
