Three Ways to Protect Yourself from Cyber Attacks

Last year, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) saw 880,418 registered complaints of cybercrime, with losses topping $12 billion. With stats like these—and data breaches and ransomware attacks constantly in the news—it can seem like there’s nothing we can do to thwart the ever-evolving tactics of cyber criminals.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! The overwhelming majority of cyber attacks are successful because of a few easily-corrected mistakes that people make. Here are three tips to help you stay safe from cybercrime.

Tip #1: Maintain Good Password Hygiene

Just like personal hygiene requires healthy habits—brushing your teeth, washing your hands, bathing—keeping your digital accounts safe takes good password practices like these:

• Make Passwords Longer and Complex. Longer and more complex = harder to crack. Another approach is to use a passphrase, a group of words that are easy for you to remember but hard for anyone else to guess.

• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). MFA adds another layer to the login process, so if your password is compromised your account is still protected.

• Use a Unique Password for Every Account. If you use the same password for everything, and it gets stolen, then all your accounts are in danger. Have trouble remembering them all? A password manager app can help.

• Monitor Your Accounts. Keeping an eye out for suspicious activity helps you catch problems sooner, limiting the damage that can be done.

Tip #2: Stay Wary of Phishing Attacks

Phishing is a type of cyber attack that uses fake emails, social media messages, and more to steal your personal information or get you to download malware. Cybercriminals use “bait” to try to lure you into completing an action, like clicking a link, or trick you into thinking the email is from a trusted source so you’ll share your personal data.

Sounds scary? It can be. But you don’t have to fall for these tricks. Here’s how to protect yourself from phishing scams:

• Slow down and stay suspicious. Phishing works because we don’t stop to think about what we’re doing. So, slow down and keep a healthy level of skepticism. If something seems too good to be true then it probably is.

• Confirm the sender’s identity. Phishers often use email addresses that look similar to legitimate ones but have slight misspellings or extra characters. For emails that claim to be from a trusted institution, hover your mouse over links to see the actual URL before clicking. Ensure it matches the legitimate website's address.

• Be careful about downloading attachments. Email attachments are a common way criminals get malware onto your computer. Always double-check that the email is legit before clicking on anything.

Tip #3: Manage Logins the Right Way

From Netflix to Spotify to shared checking accounts, many modern software services and apps are designed to accommodate multiple users. Your Alarm.com app is another example as several family members may need to arm or disarm the panel.

You might be tempted to share your login credentials as a quick, easy solution. But wait, there is a better, safer way to share access.

• Create Unique Logins for Every User. Sharing your password means surrendering control of your account, compromising security, and making it impossible to know who did what. Instead, create a unique login for every user.

• Customize Permissions for Every User. Limit each user’s access to only what they need. For example, you might want to allow your kids to access the doorbell camera to see who’s there, but not the thermostat.

• Regularly Review Access. Keep an eye on who has access to what. If someone no longer needs access, delete their login.

Cyber attacks are on the rise, but you don’t have to be a victim. Follow the tips above to protect yourself from online crime!

Ready to take action? Here are some things you can do right now.

Update Your Password
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
Create Logins & Set Permissions