October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and AARP Pennsylvania is urging consumers to take a simple steps to help protect their personal information, financial information and online accounts from scammers.
Scammers frequently use emails and text messages containing malicious links or attachments to target consumers. Clicking on a suspicious link or attachment can expose a device to malware or direct users to fraudulent websites designed to steal passwords, payment information or other sensitive data.
“Scammers are constantly looking for opportunities to get our personal and financial information, but there are steps each of us can take to make their job harder,” said AARP Pennsylvania Consumer Issues Task Force Chair Mary Bach. “Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a good reminder to strengthen our passwords, protect our accounts and think twice before clicking on an unexpected link.”
AARP Pennsylvania encourages consumers to take four simple steps to strengthen their online security:
- Use strong, unique passwords. Avoid reusing passwords across multiple accounts, and
consider using a password manager.
- Turn on multifactor authentication. Adding another form of verification provides an additional layer of protection for online accounts.
- Keep software updated. Install software and device updates as soon as they become available, as they often include important security fixes.
- Watch for phishing attempts. Think twice before clicking unexpected links or opening attachments, and report suspicious messages.
While technology and cyberthreats continue to evolve, taking these basic precautions can help consumers better protect their information and online accounts.
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