Stay Cyber Safe
As we go about our daily lives, so much of what we do now happens online—from paying bills and managing bank accounts to shopping, communicating with family and staying connected through social media. With that convenience comes the need to be a little more cautious about protecting our information.
While there’s no way to be completely “hackproof,” a few simple habits can make a big difference. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends four basic steps, known as the Core 4, to help protect your personal information, accounts and devices.
Use strong, unique passwords.
Your password is the first line of defense for your online accounts. Make passwords at least 16 characters long and use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Most importantly, don’t reuse passwords between accounts.
A password manager can make keeping track of strong, unique passwords much easier. If you prefer to write your passwords down, keep them somewhere secure and treat that information like cash.
Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA).
MFA adds another layer of protection by requiring something besides your password to log in. It may be a code sent to your phone, a fingerprint or Face ID, or a physical security key. And remember, never share an MFA code with anyone. Legitimate companies will not ask you to provide these codes by phone, text or email.
Keep your software updated.
Those update reminders may be easy to ignore, but software updates often include important security fixes. Turn on automatic updates when possible, and keep your computers, phones, tablets, smartwatches, apps and antivirus software up to date.
Watch out for phishing, utility bill scams and other scams.
Scammers use emails, texts, social media messages and phone calls to trick people into sharing information or clicking harmful links. Utility customers can also be targeted by scammers pretending to represent their electric cooperative. They may claim your bill is past due and threaten to disconnect your power unless you make an immediate payment.
Be especially cautious about unexpected messages that create a sense of urgency or ask for personal or financial information. Stop and think before you click or make a payment. If you’re unsure whether a message or phone call is legitimate, contact BDEC directly using the phone number on your bill or our official website—not a number or link provided in the suspicious message.
Remember, scammers want you to act quickly before you have time to think. Taking a few extra seconds to verify the request can help protect you from becoming a victim.
At Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative, we encourage our members to take the same approach to cybersecurity that we take with electrical safety: slow down, pay attention and don’t take unnecessary risks. A few extra seconds of caution can help protect you from a much bigger problem.
Until next time,
Jerry King
General Manager