There is no shortage of security technologies available to help you identify and neutralize threats. For example, spam filters help remove harmful messages, so they never reach your inbox. Unfortunately, those filters are not perfect. In fact, technology fails all the time. Not only that, but many attackers will attempt to circumvent the very technology used to protect people.  

Why are human firewalls so important?

Human firewalls know the warning signs of common attacks and stay alert for warning signs such as urgent requests, unexpected links or attachments, and threatening language.

Three Simple Actions for Everyone:

1. Locking Devices – Regardless of your role or location, it is important to immediately lock your devices when not in use. This simple step takes no time at all but helps protect your devices, especially mobile devices, which are often the target of thieves.
2. Use Strong Passwords – Protect your accounts by creating strong passwords that are long and unique. Use capital letters, lower case letters, numbers, and special characters to ensure your passwords are complex. It’s also smart to enable multi-factor authentication, a security feature that requires at least two forms of authentication before access is granted.
3. Think Like a Scammer – Whenever you receive a request to divulge confidential information, wire money to someone, or click on a link, consider the consequences if that request was made by a scammer. This proactive mindset will cause you to slow down and help you identify potential malicious scenarios.

For more tips and tricks, check out the additional resources below: 

• American Banking Association - Cybersecurity & Data Security | American Bankers Association / ABA Celebrates 150 Years – YouTube Channel 
• Internet Complaint Center (IC3) - Press Releases - Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)