Everyday Security Tips

Passwords & Authentication

• Get a password manager. Bitwarden and 1Password are both solid, and it beats trying to remember a dozen passwords

• Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere you can. An authenticator app is better than text codes if you have the choice

• Don't recycle the same password across different sites. If one gets leaked, you don't want it unlocking everything else

Email & Phishing

• If an email is pushing you to act fast ("your account will be suspended!"), that's usually a red flag. Take a breath before clicking anything

• Check who actually sent it. Scammers love fake domains that look almost right, like arnazon.com instead of amazon.com

• If your bank or employer supposedly emailed you, just open your browser and log in directly instead of clicking their link

• Someone asking for money or gift cards out of the blue? Even if it looks like it's from a friend, their account might be hacked

Software & Devices

• Don't ignore those update notifications. A lot of hacks happen through bugs that were already patched months ago

• Run some kind of antivirus. Doesn't need to be fancy, just something

• Stick to official app stores and real vendor websites when downloading stuff

• Lock your phone and laptop, and set them to auto-lock after a bit

Network Safety

• Skip logging into your bank while on coffee shop Wi-Fi unless you're using a VPN

• Change your router's password from the default and make sure it's using WPA2 or WPA3

General Habits

• Watch what you post online. Scammers piece together personal details from social media to make their scams more convincing

• Regularly review your bank statements. Catching fraud early makes a huge difference

• If you're not planning to open new credit anytime soon, freezing your credit is an easy way to block identity theft

• Got a weird request from someone you know? Call them or text them separately to confirm it's really them before doing anything