Fraud tactics continue to evolve, and that can make it difficult to protect our personal data and privacy. With more funds being lost to fraudulent activity than ever, prioritizing our online safety is vital. Here are four ways to help ensure your safety online:

1. Recognize and report phishing.
   Most successful online attacks result when a recipient of a "phishing" message accidentally downloads malware or unintentionally provides their personal information to a stranger. Do not click or interact with phishing attempts. Instead, recognize them by their use of alarming language or offers that are too good to be true. Report phishing attempts and then promptly delete them.
2. Use strong passwords and a password manager.
   Make passwords at least 16 characters long, random, and unique for each account. Use a password manager – a secure program that maintains and creates passwords. These easy-to-use programs store passwords and fill them in automatically across the web.
3. Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA).
   Use multifactor authentication on any site where it is offered. MFA offers an extra layer of security to passwords when logging into accounts and apps (such as a face scan or a code sent via text). Enabling MFA will help decrease the likelihood that fraudsters will gain unauthorized access to your devices, apps, and accounts. 
4. Update software.
   Update devices, apps, and software programs (especially antivirus software) as soon as they become available. These updates help protect your personal data by repairing bugs and security vulnerabilities. To make this process even easier, consider enabling automatic updates across your devices.

Prioritizing your online safety is an important part of protecting your security and personal data, but it doesn't need to be complicated. Consider following these four tips to better protect yourself online. Please visit our Fraud Prevention & Alerts page for additional fraud prevention information.