6 Tips to Protect Yourself from Cybercrime

According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, 47% of American adults have had their personal information exposed to cyber criminals, and 65% of Americans who went online received at least one online scam offer. Here are six tips to help protect you and your family from cyber criminals:

1. Change and vary your passwords.  As annoying as it can be, changing your password every month is good practice. There is a reason so many places of employment require their employees to follow this rule. Also, don’t use the same password for all your accounts. If cybercriminals get ahold of your password, they can access all your accounts.
2. Enable multi-factor authentication. Multi-factor authentication (MFA), or 2-factor authentication, adds another level of security to your accounts. MFA can include biometrics (facial scans or fingerprint access), security keys, or apps that send unique, one-time codes. 
3. Use secure websites. A straightforward way to ensure your website is secure is to look at the URL. You are safe if the site starts with “https,” like https://www.nasb.com. This is just one way we work to protect your information.
4. Beware of public Wi-Fi. Many people use public Wi-Fi in places like airports or coffee shops to check their bank accounts, purchase merchandise, or complete other tasks they’d prefer to be private. However, a cybercriminal could steal your personal information if you're not careful. Be cautious about where and what Wi-Fi you use. If possible, use a virtual private network when in public.
5. Keep your computer up to date. Sometimes, it cannot be easy to pause your life and completely shut down your computer, but it is essential to install system updates. Microsoft and Apple regularly roll out these updates to install crucial security patches so your personal information is not compromised. Also, back up your data on at least two different storage media, with one located offsite.
6. Manage your social media settings. Social engineering is a way for cybercriminals to access your personal information. These criminals troll social posts or accounts and gain information about you, including everything from your birthday to your pet's name. The less you share publicly, the better.

Children and teens can be the most vulnerable to cybercrime, with kids aged 8-18 spending an average of 7 and a half hours each day with electronic devices. Read more about The Department of Homeland Security's "Stop. Think. Connect." campaign to help parents keep their children safe online by clicking here