WORKING TOGETHER IS WHAT WE DO BEST.
For National Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, we’re here to encourage members, champion your safety and empower you to stay safe online.
Be cybersecurity aware this month and every month with the following tips:
Stay safe online when using AI. While AI might offer valuable capabilities, always remember to stay proactive and educated about the risks. Be sure to mind your inputs and refrain from sharing anything you want to keep private. Remember, what you share publicly online may be copied, in whole or in part, by AI tools since they scrape data from the web.
Kids need to learn, too. Be positively engaged by paying attention to the online environments your children use. Surf the web with them. Appreciate your children’s participation in their online communities and show interest in their friends. Be sure to review your privacy settings to provide appropriate protection for them online.
Update software promptly. When we see an update alert, many of us tend to hit “Remind me later.” Think twice before delaying a software update. Keeping software up to date is an easy way to stay safer online. Remember to turn on automatic updates and watch for notifications so that your software can protect you, fix bugs, improve performance and provide you with the latest features.
Keep a clean machine. Cybersecurity starts with protecting all household computers with a security suite, meaning antivirus, anti-spyware and firewall software. Software companies often send updates that deal with the latest cybersecurity threats, so set your software to update automatically to stay worry-free.
Remember to follow the “Core 4.” As generative AI increases in popularity, adopting the “Core 4” cybersecurity behaviors is important for all of us. Use strong, unique passwords, turn on multifactor authentication for all accounts, keep software updated and watch for phishing.
Follow these top tips to stay safe online!
USE STRONG PASSWORDS…
Make your passwords:
Long: At least 16 characters
Random: Use upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols
Unique: Use a different password for each account
…AND A PASSWORD MANAGER
Password managers can:
- Store all your passwords
- Tell you when you have weak or reused passwords
- Generate strong passwords for you
- Automatically fill logins into sites and apps
TURN ON MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION
It provides extra security by confirming your identity when logging into accounts, like entering a code texted to a phone or generated by an authenticator app.
RECOGNIZE AND REPORT PHISHING
Common signs of a phish include:
- Urgent/alarming language
- Requests for personal or financial info
- Poor writing or misspellings
- Incorrect email addresses or links
Spot a phish? Report it to your organization or email provider, then delete it.
UPDATE YOUR SOFTWARE
Software updates ensure your devices are protected against the latest threats. Turn on the automatic updates in your device’s or app’s security settings!
Beware of Scams & Frauds Following Devastating Weather Events
Utility scams and fraudulent schemes often arise after severe weather events. Scammers use phone calls, texts, emails, fake websites, and even door-to-door visits to try to steal from you.
First, please be aware of anyone pretending to be a member services representative from York Electric who asks for your credit card information, banking details, or Social Security number via call, text, or email. Our strict policy is to NEVER ask for personal information or payment methods over the phone or through texts or emails.
Here are the other red flags that should tip you off to the “storm chaser” scam:
Offers for quick repair services. Always ask for an ID or a business license. Contact your insurance company first to see what your policy covers. Get offers in writing, but never pay anything or sign anything – especially regarding the rights to your insurance money – without doing your due diligence and researching the company (the Better Business Bureau is a great place to start.) Most importantly, do not succumb to the number one tool every scammer uses, pressure tactics.
Solicitation of donations in the names of well-known charities or “new” charities that are seemingly related specifically to this disaster, as they are often fake. Investigate the legitimacy of any charity before handing over a penny, never respond to unsolicited requests via phone, text, or email, and never click a link in an unsolicited email message.
Scammers are impersonating representatives from insurance providers or government agencies, like FEMA, offering relief in exchange for payment or requesting personal information to initiate the process.
Price-gouging for goods and services.
Offers of goods and services, requests for donations, pleas from seemingly legitimate community organizations, and more that come to your attention through social media should always be viewed suspiciously and vetted thoroughly before even a “like,” much less any engagement.
Finally, when you do pay for legitimate services or donations, never use cash, wire transfers, or mobile payment apps and services. Credit cards or checks are the safest, most traceable options.
We encourage members to report suspected scams to your cooperative, local authorities, and the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.
Be vigilant and also rest assured we’re watching out for you.