Cybersecurity is defined as the practice of deploying people, policies, processes and technologies to protect organizations, their critical systems and sensitive information from digital attacks. In 2004, George W. Bush and Congress declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, helping individuals protect themselves online against threats to technology and confidential data. 

Individuals are spending increased time online, growing our dependence on technology so it is as important as ever to have the resources to stay safe against cyber-attacks. According to Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, there are four things you can do to stay safe on the internet:

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication is a way to add extra security to every account. It requires additional verification for users rather than just using a username and password. A benefit of this is that you can do this 100% remotely. 

Use Strong Passwords          

Using a strong password is also another way to stay safe online. A strong password should consist of at least eight characters in length and includes a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

Recognizing Phishing Scams            

Phishing scams use fake emails and websites to trick users into giving out private accounts or login information. Do not click on links or open any attachments or pop-up screens from sources you are not familiar with. Also remember not to click on any links in text messages you may receive.

Update Your Software

Keep your computer and mobile devices up to date with current software. Having the newest updates is the best defense against viruses, malware, cyber hacks, and other online threats. Turn on automatic updates to make sure you always have the latest software. 

American State Bank wants to make sure you are staying safe against cybersecurity threats. Having a safe and secure web environment will help protect you against many threats that could cost you precious money and time. We hope we were able to bring awareness about these threats to you and how you can protect yourself. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.