CISA urges stronger cybersecurity habits as personal data moves online
Published 3:17 pm Wednesday, October 14, 2026
LEXINGTON – As everything from medical records to banking information is managed online, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) says it’s increasingly essential to practice good cybersecurity habits.
October marks the 22nd anniversary of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, first designated by Congress in 2004. Today, CISA recommends that everyone take a few simple steps to ensure that cybersecurity is a priority all year long.
–Use a password manager and strong passwords. This simple step can protect your personal and financial information by keeping track of one password and storing the rest.
–Report phishing attempts. When you receive a suspicious email attempting to gain access to your personal information, report it to your email provider, IT department or wherever you receive the attempt.
–Regularly update your software. Be sure to restart and shutdown your computer regularly as this will prompt software updates, which address security issues and help your devices run more efficiently.
–When prompted enable multi-factor authentication for all your online accounts. This extra step reduces your chances of being hacked.
While some people may be unfamiliar with multi-factor authentication, it’s a quick and simple way to add an extra layer of protection to confidential data. This additional step acts like an extra lock designed to protect accounts from hackers or a cybersecurity weakness. In some cases, MFA might require biometric verification like a fingerprint or facial scan.
Make sure to activate MFA for all online accounts. Most options for MFA include receiving a text, phone call or email. The simplest way to enable multifactor authentication is to set up a face scan or fingerprint scan. Not only is this the quickest option, but it’s also more secure. In the event of a lost or stolen phone, no one can access your information.
This small step can make a significant difference when it comes to protecting your online accounts. In addition to protecting against security weaknesses or compromised login information, enabling MFA also helps protect online accounts from phishing attempts.
For more information on cybersecurity and to sign up for email alerts, go to: cisa.gov.
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