Cyber incidents can knock out access to email, banking, bills, medical portals, or school/work accounts. A few easy habits now will help you avoid problems—and get back up and running quickly if there’s an interruption.
Protect Logins + Family Readiness
Protect Logins + Family Readiness
Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for email, banking, shopping, cloud storage, and social media (use an authenticator app when possible).
Use a password manager to create unique, long passwords for every site; enable breach/compromise alerts in the manager.
Set recovery options now: backup email/phone and printed recovery codes in your emergency folder.
Do it for everyone: help kids, seniors, and caregivers enable MFA and a password manager; keep shared recovery info in a safe place.
House rules: don’t share passwords or codes; verify unusual requests by calling the person or organization.
Keep Devices Up to Date + Safer Wi-Fi & Home Network
Keep Devices Up to Date + Safer Wi-Fi & Home Network
Auto-update everything: phones, computers, browsers, apps, routers, and smart devices.
Use built-in security (or reputable antivirus) and leave real-time protection on; turn on device encryption (FileVault, BitLocker, mobile passcode).
Secure your router: change default admin password, update firmware, use WPA2/WPA3, turn off WPS, and disable remote admin you don’t use.
Guest/IoT network: put visitors and smart home devices on a separate Wi-Fi network; keep work/school devices on your main network.
Backups So You Can Recover + Prepare for an Internet/Account Outage
Backups So You Can Recover + Prepare for an Internet/Account Outage
3-2-1 backups: 3 copies, 2 different types of storage, 1 off-site or offline (external drive kept unplugged or trusted cloud).
Test a restore twice a year so you know backups actually work.
Offline essentials: print or save PDFs of insurance cards, prescriptions, emergency contacts, and key account numbers.
Recovery ready: store MFA backup codes; keep a charged power bank; know how to hotspot a phone if home internet drops.
