October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global initiative to help educate and empower people on how to stay safe online. LGE Community Credit Union is proud to champion this online safety and education initiative in partnership with the National Cybersecurity Alliance.
This October, take control of your online safety by practicing these cybersecurity basics:
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Use strong passwords and a password manager
- Passwords longer than 16 characters which use a string of mixed-case letters, numbers and symbols are harder for hackers to guess. Be sure to use a unique password for every account.
- Instead of committing multiple passwords to memory, password managers securely store your passwords, help you identify weak passwords and create safe passwords for new accounts.
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Enable multifactor authentication (MFA)
- Standalone MFA apps like Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator and Duo further secure your accounts. MFA apps that use biometrics like FaceID are the most secure.
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Update your software
- Updates only require a few minutes and are one of the easiest ways to stay safe online. Updates fix flaws in programming and keep your device up to date with the latest security features when you update your software. Learn how to update your software here.
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Recognize and report scams
- Be wary of calls, emails and messages from people you don’t recognize. Before you answer the phone, respond to a text, or click email links, pause on messages that express urgent emotions. Ask yourself: ‘Is this message unexpected, causing strong feelings or requesting a payment to an unrecognized account’? If you suspect a scam, report as phishing or spam, delete the message and block the contact.
Everyone is responsible for our communities’ cybersecurity, and your engagement helps protect you and your family online. Together, we can build a stronger, more secure digital environment.
For more information about ways to keep yourself and your family safe online, visit: StaySafeOnline.org
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