For more than 20 years, October has been recognized as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a nation-wide effort to raise awareness about online safety and help people better protect their personal information, devices and accounts. Each October, in support of the focused efforts to help protect consumers, Delta Community shares information with members and the public on practical ways to be safer online.

But keeping your personal computer secure is not something to think about only once a year. Cybersecurity should be a regular habit. Whether you use a desktop or laptop, every computer can be vulnerable to cyber threats. Built-in safeguards can help, but they should not be the only protection you depend on.

Cybercriminals are fast, persistent and constantly looking for weaknesses in computers, software, networks and online accounts. They may use fake emails, infected files, malicious websites, stolen passwords and other tactics to access personal information or financial accounts. Recent technologies, including artificial intelligence tools, may also help criminals move faster as they search for vulnerabilities.

Fortunately, there are practical steps that could help reduce risk. Following are five basic actions to aid with keeping your personal computer secure.

1. Keep operating security features turned on and consider using some feature-limited free versions of reputable third-party security software. Most modern operating systems include built-in security features, and it could be a good idea to examine them and check their settings and decide if any of them should be changed. You may want to consider adding reputable security software from a well-known personal cybersecurity company. Depending on the program, this type of software may include antivirus protection such as firewall tools, malicious website warnings, ransomware protection, email scanning and other safeguards. Some software programs require a purchase or a paid annual subscription, while some of these security companies also offer free versions of their software with basic security features that could meet your security preferences. If you install security software, take time to review its settings. Make sure it is set to scan your files, folders, drives and downloads. It should also update itself automatically so it can respond to new and changing threats. A security program is never a guarantee of protection against every attack, but it can be one more useful layer of protection.

2. Strengthen your passwords and use multifactor authentication. Strong passwords are essential for protecting your computer and online accounts. Avoid passwords that are easy to guess, such as birthdays, pet names, sports teams, common phrases or reused passwords from other accounts. A stronger password is usually longer, more random and unique to one account. A strong password can include:

   • Uppercase and lowercase letters
   • Numbers
   • Symbols
   • Unusual word combinations
   • A length that makes it harder to guess or crack

3. Because it can be difficult to remember many strong passwords, consider using a password manager that is either built into your web browser or one from a leading cybersecurity software company. A password manager can help create and store unique passwords for different accounts.

   Also, turn on multifactor authentication when it is available, especially for email, financial accounts, shopping accounts and cloud storage. Multifactor authentication adds another step—such as a code, facial recognition, app approval or a physical security key—before allowing account access.

4. Be careful with unexpected emails, links and attachments. Phishing emails are still one of the most common ways cybercriminals try to reach victims. A phishing message may pretend to come from a financial institution, delivery company, retailer, government agency, technology company or even someone you know. The message may urge you to click a link, download a file, confirm account details or call a suspicious phone number. Before clicking anything, pause and look carefully. Ask yourself:

   • Was I expecting this message?
   • Do I think the sender had a legitimate reason for contacting me?
   • Do I recognize and trust the sender?
   • Does the email address match the company name?
   • Are there misspellings, strange wording or odd formatting?
   • Do the graphics look distorted or odd in some way?
   • Does the message pressure me to act at once?
   • Does any link lead to the company’s real website?
   • Does the sender’s email address (hover your cursor over it for more information) appear to match the organization it should be coming from, or does it look like a personal address? If the address looks strange, do not click any links.

   On a computer, you may be able to hover your cursor over an embedded link to preview where it goes before clicking. If you are unsure whether a message is real, go directly to the company’s official website or call a verified phone number. Do not rely on the phone number or link inside the suspicious email.

5. Keep your software updated. Software updates may seem inconvenient, but they are one of the most important steps in keeping your personal computer secure. Updates often include security patches that fix weaknesses cybercriminals could exploit. They may also improve performance, correct bugs and add useful features. When possible, turn on automatic updates. This can help ensure important patches are installed quickly rather than being delayed or forgotten. If an update is described as critical, urgent or security-related, take it seriously. Hackers may move quickly to exploit a software vulnerability when it becomes public, so delaying an update may increase risk.

6. Back up important files. Even with strong security habits, accidents and attacks can still happen. A computer may crash. A hard drive may fail. A laptop may have been stolen. A file may be accidentally deleted. Malware or ransomware could damage or lock important information. That is why backing up important files is essential. You may want to consider an encrypted online backup service, an external hard drive or a combination of both. Some online services automatically back up selected folders and files on a schedule or continuously. Many services offer limited free storage and paid plans for larger amounts of data. Backups may include:

   • Financial records
   • Tax documents
   • Family photos and videos
   • Personal documents
   • Work or school files
   • Music, creative projects and other digital content

   You may think having a backup is unnecessary—until something goes wrong. But if your computer is damaged or compromised, a recent backup can help you recover important files more quickly and with less stress.

Have you considered account monitoring to help protect against identity theft?

If cybersecurity is a serious concern, then it may be helpful to look at investing in an identity monitoring plan to help keep your personal and credit information safe. Delta Community Credit Union and its wholly owned subsidiary, Members Insurance Advisors, now offer their members identity protection plans from PrivacyGuard¹. All PrivacyGuard plans offer tools such as credit monitoring and dark and public web scanning of your personal information, activity alerts and access to fraud resolution experts as part of their benefits.

Interested in more ideas on protecting your computer?

The U.S. government agency the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) works to protect consumers from many types of scams and illegal activities, and the FTC website includes information on protecting privacy and data. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) also gives personal cybersecurity advice on its website.

Delta Community’s blog has more recommendations on protecting your computer, your data and your online accounts.

Keeping your personal computer secure does not require expert technical knowledge. It does require regular attention, careful habits and a willingness to slow down before clicking, downloading or sharing information online.

Sources used in writing this post

Sources used in writing this post include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The website https://www.staysafeonline.org/ created by the National Cybersecurity Alliance, which “is dedicated to creating a safer, interconnected digital world by empowering individuals, businesses, and organizations to protect their online presence.”
• The city of New York’s Consumer and Worker Protection Department.
• The U.S. government agency the Federal Trade Commission.
• The federal Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.

¹The benefits in PrivacyGuard are provided by Trilegiant Corporation.