By Johnny Largin
•
July 13, 2024
There has been a lot of news lately about data breaches and cyber attacks on large businesses. AT&T recently disclosed (for a 2nd time) that cybercriminals gained access to customer data. Change Healthcare recently disclosed that cybercriminals gained access to customer data. Florida Department of Health recently confirmed that it was dealing with a cyber incident. As a result of these data breaches, millions of consumers' personal information is now in the hands of cyber criminals and could be for sale on the dark web. With all the chaos among us, there are steps you can take to improve your online security. While it is convenient to use the same password for every website, don’t do it. Using the same password makes it easier for cybercriminals to gain access to your information. It is also convenient to use the same password for years and years, but don’t do it. Frequently changing your password reduces the chances that a cybercriminal can easily gain access to your account. It's understandable you appreciate convenience, but cybercriminals appreciate your appreciation for convenience too. Don’t make it easy for them to get your personal information. Add an extra layer of security by turning on multi-factor authentication whenever it is available. Yes, it creates an extra step when logging into your account, but it could reduce the chances of a cybercriminal easily gaining access to your account. After all, In the case of UnitedHealth, CEO Andrew Witty attributed the hack to acquiring a company, Change Healthcare, and that they hadn’t yet brought their security up to snuff. It wasn’t a sophisticated hack that breached the company either: Change Healthcare did not have multi-factor authentication turned on, Witty testified before Congress. Cyber incidents are on the rise but that doesn't mean you should be an easy target. Take the necessary (and free steps) to decrease your online risk. To learn more, contact us today at 877-435- 7294 or email us at info@completeworksinc.com .