Cybersecurity Month from SPC: Password Protection Tips & More

Regardless of whether or not you’re regularly using digital and online products and services, cyber criminals (aka the “bad guys”) are. That’s why it’s critical to stay on your A-game in order to protect yourself and your loved ones from threats to your identity and financial security.

Not sure where to begin? Not to worry. We’ve got you covered with a commonsense approach to cyber security in a digital world.

The most common forms of cyber threats include:

• Social Engineering

• Phishing

• Ransomware Attacks

Social engineering is when someone tricks you into giving them access to your computer or personal information. It's a way of using psychology to manipulate you into making mistakes with your security, or sharing private details.

Phishing is a trick where the bad guys try to get you to share important information or download harmful software. They often do this by sending you an email with a link, or through text. When you click on that link, it might take you to a fake website designed to steal your login details for sites like Google or Facebook, or it could install dangerous programs on your computer.

***DON’T BE FOOLED BY CAPITAL LETTERS, EXCLAMATION MARKS, BOLD WORDS, AND DEADLINES. Bad guys will often use these and other scare tactics to prompt an impulsive response.

For example, imagine you receive an email that looks like it's from your financial institution. It says there's a problem with your account and asks you to click a link to fix it. When you click the link, it takes you to a fake website that looks just like your financial institution’s site. If you enter your login information there, the scammer can steal it and access your real bank account.

Ransomware is a type of harmful software that locks you out of your computer by scrambling your files so you can't open them. The person behind the attack will then ask you for money to get the “keys” that will unlock your files. These attackers often create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to pay quickly before a deadline.

For example, imagine you’re working on an important project on your computer and suddenly all your files become unreadable. A message appears on your screen saying that your files are locked and if you want to get them back, you need to pay a specific amount of money within 48 hours. If you don’t pay, they threaten to delete your files forever.

***If you become the victim of a ransomware attack, it’s important to remember who you’re dealing with. The person on the other end can’t be trusted to play fair. Paying a ransom does NOT guarantee you’ll regain access to your files. Plus, it may set you up as a target for follow-up attacks. If you become the target of a ransomware attack, do not engage. Report the attack to CISA (Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Agency), your local FBI field office, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), or your local U.S. Secret Service field office.
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