5 simple steps to protect yourself online
A few small habits can go a long way toward keeping your accounts and personal information safe. Here’s where to start:
1. Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA)
Start with your email and financial accounts, then turn it on everywhere it’s offered. Email matters most. Someone who gets into your inbox can use password-reset emails to take over your other accounts, and may even be able to reset your MFA. When you have the choice, use an authenticator app or security key.
2. Use a different password for every account
A long passphrase made of unrelated words is easier to remember. Avoid familiar quotes and personal details. Even better, use a password manager to create and store strong, unique passwords. Protect it with its own strong passphrase and MFA, and turn on alerts for weak, reused or exposed passwords.
3. Keep your devices and apps updated, including your home router
Turn on automatic updates wherever you can. Updates fix security weaknesses that criminals can exploit, which helps stop many common attacks. For router instructions, check the manufacturer’s website or contact your internet provider if it supplied your equipment.
4. Be mindful of what you share online
Review your privacy settings and limit public access to personal details. Information about your family, workplace and activities can make scam messages more convincing. With so many data breaches in the news, it can feel like protecting your information no longer matters. It does, because every extra detail helps someone build a fuller picture of you. You still control what you share.
5. Check whether your information has appeared in a breach
Visit haveibeenpwned.com to check your email address and sign up for free breach notifications. If a password was exposed, change it everywhere you used it. A breach listing doesn’t mean someone accessed your account, and a clear result doesn’t guarantee you’re safe, since the site only covers breaches it knows about.
Taking these steps today can save you a lot of trouble later!