Stay Cyber-Safe During the Holidays

Ready.gov offers tips for protecting your private information during the holidays and all year long:

Before a Cyber Attack

Limit the personal information you share online. Change privacy settings and do not use location features.
Keep software applications and operating systems up to date.
Create strong passwords by using upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters. Use a password manager and two methods of verification.
Watch for suspicious activity that asks you to do something right away, offers something that sounds too good to be true, or needs your personal information. Think before you click. When in doubt, do NOT click.
Protect your home and/or business using a secure Internet connection and Wi-Fi network and change passwords regularly.
Don’t share PINs or passwords. Use devices that use biometric scans when possible (e.g., fingerprint scanner or facial recognition).
Check your account statements and credit reports regularly.
Be cautious about sharing personal financial information, such as your bank account number, Social Security number or credit card number. Only share personal information on secure sites that begin with https://. Do not use sites with invalid certificates. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that creates a more secure connection.
Use antivirus and anti-malware solutions, and firewalls to block threats.
Back up your files regularly in an encrypted file or encrypted file storage device.
Do not click on links in texts or emails from people you don’t know. Scammers can create fake links to websites.
Remember that the government will not call, text or contact you via social media about owing money.
Keep in mind that scammers may try to take advantage of financial fears by calling with work-from-home-opportunities, debt consolidation offers and student loan repayment plans.

During a Cyber Attack

Check your credit card and bank statements for unrecognizable charges.
Check your credit reports for any new accounts or loans you didn’t open.
Be alert for emails and social media users that ask for private information.
If you notice strange activity, limit the damage by changing all of your internet account passwords immediately.
Consider turning off the device that has been affected. Take it to a professional to scan for potential viruses and remove any that they find. Remember: A company will not call you and ask for control of your computer to fix it. This is a common scam.
Let work, school or other system owners know what happened.
Run a security scan on your device to make sure your system is not infected or acting more slowly or inefficiently.
If you find a problem, disconnect your device from the Internet and perform a full system restore.

After a Cyber Attack

Contact banks, credit card companies and other financial services companies where you hold accounts. You may need to place holds on accounts that have been attacked. Close any unauthorized credit or charge accounts. Report that someone may be using your identity.
File a report with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) if you think someone is using your Social Security number illegally.
File a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). They will review the complaint and refer it to the appropriate agency.
File a report with the local police so there is an official record of the incident.
Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission.
Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ftc.gov/complaint if you receive messages from anyone claiming to be a government agent.
Contact additional agencies depending on what information was stolen.
Examples include contacting:
- The Social Security Administration (800-269-0271) if your Social Security number was compromised, or
- The Department of Motor Vehicles if your driver’s license or car registration has been stolen.
Report online crime or fraud to your local United States Secret Service (USSS) Electronic Crimes Task Force or the Internet Crime Complaint Center.