From banking and bill pay to shopping and streaming, so much of our lives happen online. While technology makes everyday tasks easier, it also creates opportunities for scammers and fraudsters to target personal information. Luckily, a few simple habits can go a long way toward helping protect your accounts, identity and finances. At Credit Human, we encourage members to focus on four key actions that can strengthen cybersecurity every day.
A password is a good first layer of protection, but adding multi-factor authentication (MFA) makes it much harder for someone else to access your accounts. With MFA enabled, you'll be asked to verify your identity using an additional step, such as a text message code, authentication app, fingerprint or facial recognition before signing in. Even if someone gets your password, they are much less likely to gain access to your account without that second form of verification.
Action step: Turn on multi-factor authentication for important accounts like online banking, email, social media and shopping sites.
Using the same password across multiple accounts can put you at risk for being hacked. If one website experiences a data breach, scammers may try that same username and password combination on other sites.
Strong passwords should be:
Avoid using personal information such as birthdays, anniversaries, addresses or family names that could be easy to guess.
Action step: Consider using a password manager to securely create and store unique passwords for all your accounts.
Phishing scams are designed to trick people into sharing sensitive information like passwords, account numbers or Social Security numbers. These scams often arrive through email, text messages, social media or fake websites.
Common warning signs include:
If something feels off, pause before clicking. It's always better to verify a request through a trusted source.
Action step Never share passwords or sensitive information through email or text, and report suspicious activity when you see it.
Software updates do more than add new features. They often include security fixes that protect your devices from newly discovered threats. When phones, tablets, computers and apps aren't updated, they can become easier targets for cybercriminals.
Action step: Turn on automatic updates whenever possible so your devices always have the latest security protections.
Cybersecurity doesn't have to be complicated. By turning on multi-factor authentication, using strong passwords, spotting phishing attempts and keeping software updated, you can build stronger protection for your personal information and finances.
At Credit Human, we're committed to helping people make informed decisions about their financial health. Taking these four actions can help you stay safer online and more confident when managing your money. For more information about how we keep you safe, visit our security center.