ABC-7 at 4: Cyber ​​Security Awareness Month

El Paso, Texas (KVIA-TV) – As we close out Cybersecurity Awareness Month, FBI El Paso wants to give El Paso a few more tips on how to stay safe online, especially as the holiday shopping season quickly approaches. Even in the midst of large-scale data breaches and cyberattacks, Cyber ​​Security Awareness Month reminds everyone that there are simple, effective ways to stay safe online and protect personal data. The FBI El Paso discusses four ways to stay safe online: using strong PASSPHRASES, not just passwords, and using a password manager.

They emphasize that you should use more than one password for different accounts because if that password is stolen, it is the cyber key to all your accounts. Use a passphrase that is not a pet name, school name, etc… for example HelloW33nIsS0MuchFun$24.
Since we can’t keep track of all these passwords, a password manager comes in handy. They can store your passwords and generate strong and complex passwords. Take the time to research a password manager that meets your needs. Enable Multifactor Authentication, also known as two-step verification.
This is a measure for an account where the user must prove his identity in several ways, for example with a fingerprint or a text code.
MFA makes it extremely difficult for hackers to access your online accounts, even if they know your password. We recommend setting up multi-factor authentication for any account that allows it, especially if it’s related to work, school, email, banking, online stores, and social media.
Recognize Phishing Attempts Phishing is when scammers use fake emails, social media posts, or direct messages to trick you into clicking a bad link or downloading a malicious attachment.
Before clicking any links or downloading attachments, take a few seconds to make sure the emails look legitimate.
How to recognize a phishing email:
Does it contain an offer that is too good to be true?
Does it contain language that is urgent, alarming or threatening?
Poorly made with spelling mistakes and poor grammar?
Is the greeting very general?
Does it include requests to send personal information?
Does the sender’s email address match the company it came from? Look for misspellings such as pavpal.com or anazon.com. Finally, make sure your software operating systems and apps are updated regularly.
Make sure you know where the updates are coming from and only use verified sources to download app updates from your device’s official app stores. These updates should be applied to your streaming apps, gaming devices, and connected devices like Alexa, Ring doorbells, and Fitbits.