Protect Yourself
Cyberthreat actors are aggressively attempting to steal sensitive information, including Personal Identifying Information (PII) and financial information. This is often achieved by acquiring a victim’s personal details, such as names of friends, hometown, employer, locations they frequent and recent online purchases. Attackers then use that information to disguise themselves as a trustworthy source, typically through email or other online messaging.
Follow and share these tips to protect yourself and others against cybercrime.
Update antivirus software
Keep your antivirus software on your computer updated.
Use a secure password
Choose a secure password and don’t use the same password for multiple sites.
Check website security
Look for the lock symbol on your Internet browser to ensure any website using your financial information is encrypted.
Don’t share information
Don’t share personal information with anyone—unless you initiated the contact and know who you are dealing with.
Be skeptical
Consider whether a “once in a lifetime” offer could be real, and be wary of “urgent” requests.
Verify the sender
If something doesn’t seem right, contact the sender by looking up their official email addresses.
Spell check
Spelling and grammar mistakes can indicate a phishing attempt.
Don’t click. Hover
Ensure all hyperlinked descriptions match their destinations.
Beware of attachments
Don’t open or click on anything attached to a suspicious email.
