Cybersecurity Awareness Month: 10 Smart Ways to Protect Yourself Online
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which makes it a perfect time to take a fresh look at how you protect your personal information, online accounts and finances.
Every day, cybercriminals use increasingly sophisticated tactics to steal passwords, financial information and personal data. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), Americans reported more than $20.8 billion in internet crime losses in 2025, a 26% increase over the previous year.
While technology continues to evolve, many successful scams still depend on one thing: getting someone to act before they stop and think.
The good news is that you can take several simple steps to make yourself a much harder target.
Here are 10 cybersecurity tips to help keep you and your information safer online.
1. Create Strong, Unique Passwords
Your passwords are an important first line of defense. Use long, unique passwords for your most important accounts, and avoid using the same password on multiple websites.
If a criminal obtains a password from one compromised website and you’ve used that same password elsewhere, several of your accounts could be vulnerable.
A password manager can make it easier to create and securely store unique passwords without having to remember them all.
Avoid passwords that contain easily guessed information such as your name, birthday, address or common words.
Remember: Long. Unique. Private. Protected.
And whenever an account offers multi-factor authentication, turn it on.
2. Stop and Think Before Clicking
A message arrives in your inbox or on your phone. There’s a link. Maybe there’s an attachment. Perhaps the message says you need to act immediately.
Before clicking, stop for a moment.
Was the message expected? Do you recognize the sender? Does the request make sense?
Phishing scams are designed to look legitimate while tricking you into visiting a fraudulent website, downloading malicious software or providing personal information.
If you’re unsure, don’t click the link. Instead, visit the company’s official website yourself or contact the organization using a phone number you know is legitimate.
A few seconds of caution can save you from a major headache.
3. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
A password alone doesn’t have to be your only defense.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA), sometimes called two-factor authentication (2FA), adds another verification step when you sign into an account.
Depending on the service, you may be asked to:
Enter a security code
Approve a notification through an authentication app
Use your fingerprint or facial recognition
Insert a physical security key
MFA can provide important protection if your password is stolen because a criminal may still be unable to access your account without the additional verification.
Whenever possible, enable MFA for your email, financial accounts, social media profiles and other important online services.
4. Be Skeptical of Unexpected Requests
Scammers know how to create a sense of urgency.
You might receive a message claiming your account has been locked, a payment failed, a package can’t be delivered or you need to take immediate action.
Don’t allow pressure to make the decision for you.
Instead, take a step back and independently verify the situation. Use a trusted website or phone number rather than the contact information included in a suspicious email or text.
Stop. Verify. Then decide.
That simple habit can help protect you from many common scams.
5. Keep Your Computer, Phone and Apps Updated
Those update notifications can be easy to ignore, but they’re important.
Operating system and software updates frequently include security patches designed to fix vulnerabilities that criminals could potentially exploit.
Whenever possible, enable automatic updates on your:
Smartphone
Computer
Tablet
Web browser
Mobile apps
Smart home and connected devices
Keeping your technology current is one of the easiest cybersecurity habits you can develop.
6. Watch Out for AI-Generated Scams
Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work and communicate—and scammers are using it, too.
Criminals can use AI to create convincing emails, fake websites, realistic images and even voice impersonations. A message that looks professional or sounds like someone you know isn’t automatically legitimate.
Be especially cautious if someone unexpectedly asks you to:
Send money
Purchase gift cards
Share a password or verification code
Provide financial information
Change payment instructions
Take an unusual or urgent action
When something seems suspicious, verify it through a different communication method.
If technology can make scams more convincing, awareness becomes even more important.
7. Think Twice About Public Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi at restaurants, hotels, airports, coffee shops and other public locations can be convenient, but you shouldn’t automatically assume every public network is secure.
Avoid logging into sensitive financial accounts or entering confidential information while using an unfamiliar public network.
If you need to connect, use a trusted VPN and make sure your device’s security features are enabled. When possible, save banking, shopping and other sensitive transactions for a trusted network.
Convenience is great. Security is better.
8. Be Careful With QR Codes
QR codes are everywhere—from restaurant menus and advertisements to signs, emails and text messages.
Unfortunately, scammers can also use them to send you to fraudulent websites.
Before scanning a QR code, consider where it came from. After scanning, carefully examine the website address before entering a password, credit card number or other personal information.
If the website looks unfamiliar or something about the request seems suspicious, close it.
A QR code may be convenient, but it isn’t automatically trustworthy.
9. Don’t Let Fear, Excitement or Curiosity Make the Decision
Scammers use emotions to get people to act quickly.
A message might promise a prize, threaten an account closure, warn about suspicious activity or claim that a loved one needs immediate help.
Before responding, ask yourself:
Is this something I was expecting?
Do I know who actually sent it?
Is the request unusual?
Am I being pressured to act immediately?
Is someone asking for money or sensitive information?
Could I independently verify the request?
If something doesn’t feel right, take your time.
Don’t let a scammer’s urgency become your emergency.
10. Protect Your Financial and Personal Information
Be particularly careful when someone asks for sensitive information such as your account number, debit or credit card information, Social Security number, password or security code.
Criminals may pretend to be your financial institution, a government agency, a retailer, a delivery company—or even someone you know.
If you receive an unexpected message involving your money or personal information, don’t automatically use the phone number, email address or link provided in that message.
Instead, contact the organization directly through a trusted phone number or by visiting its official website.
Protecting Your Accounts at Friends & Family Credit Union
As a member of Friends & Family Credit Union, your financial security is important to us.
Whether you live in Massillon, Canton or elsewhere in Stark County, Ohio, make cybersecurity part of your everyday financial routine. Be cautious with unexpected messages, protect your login credentials and always verify suspicious requests before providing information.
If you receive a suspicious communication that appears to involve your credit union account, contact Friends & Family Credit Union directly using a trusted contact method rather than responding to the suspicious message.
Get More Protection With Friends & Family Credit Union
Protecting your identity and finances involves more than being careful online. Friends & Family Credit Union offers additional services designed to help members protect their identity, finances and everyday purchases while providing valuable savings and financial wellness benefits.
Family Secure Checking
Family Secure Checking combines everyday checking with a broad range of identity protection, insurance and money-saving benefits for one low monthly service fee of $6.95. Members receive mobile and online banking, a Mastercard® debit card, online bill pay, surcharge-free ATM access and shared branching, along with IDProtect® identity theft monitoring and resolution services.
Additional benefits include up to $10,000 in identity theft expense reimbursement coverage, credit monitoring and alerts, dark web monitoring, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, cell phone protection, buyer’s protection, extended warranty coverage, health and telehealth discounts, travel and leisure savings, and financial wellness resources. It’s a convenient way to add another layer of protection to your everyday banking. Learn more about Family Secure Checking.
Family Secure+
Family Secure+ provides an expanded package of identity protection, insurance, health savings, lifestyle discounts and financial wellness resources for just $6.95 per month. Members can receive IDProtect® identity monitoring and resolution services, dark web and credit monitoring, access to credit reports and scores, and up to $10,000 in identity theft expense reimbursement coverage.
The program also includes accidental death and dismemberment insurance, cell phone protection, buyer’s protection, extended warranty protection, prescription, dental and vision discounts, 24/7 telehealth access, travel and entertainment discounts, online shopping rewards and one-on-one financial coaching. Family Secure+ brings a wide range of valuable protections and benefits together in one convenient package. Learn more about Family Secure+.
Your Best Defense Is Awareness
Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be complicated.
Some of the most effective protections are simple everyday habits:
Think before you click. Use strong, unique passwords. Turn on MFA. Keep your devices updated. Be skeptical of unexpected requests. Protect your financial information.
The goal isn’t to become an expert in cybersecurity. It’s to develop habits that make it harder for scammers to catch you off guard.
This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, take a few minutes to review your online security—and make those good habits part of your routine all year long.
Stay alert. Stay informed. Stay secure.
If you believe you may have encountered a scam involving your Friends & Family Credit Union account or financial information, contact the credit union as soon as possible.