A: Cyberattacks are the fastest-growing crime in the U.S., and staying cyber savvy is your best defense. Start by using strong, unique passwords that are at least 12 characters long and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols—avoid using personal information. Enable multifactor authentication (MFA) on all your accounts to add an extra layer of protection. Be cautious about what you share online; even seemingly harmless quizzes on social media can reveal answers to common security questions. Learn to recognize phishing attempts, which often come in the form of emails or messages pretending to be from trusted sources. Spear phishing is a more targeted version that uses personal details to appear more convincing. Vishing (voice phishing) involves scammers calling and pretending to be from banks or government agencies, while smishing uses fake text messages to trick you into revealing sensitive information. To further protect yourself, use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your internet connection and browse in incognito mode to prevent local history and cookies from being stored. Regularly back up your files to an external drive or cloud service so you’re not left empty-handed in the event of an attack. Always check for “https” in website URLs before entering sensitive information—if the “s” is missing, the site may not be secure. And if you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the company directly using a verified number. Staying informed and cautious can go a long way in keeping your personal information safe.
Sources: pcmag.com; us.norton.com