October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month – a great time to remind ourselves just how much of our lives take place online and the potential threats that exist in the digital world. Any device that stores information or connects to the internet could become a target forcybercriminals seeking to steal your data. Here are four important ways to help stay safe online. 

First, always usestrong, unique passwords for each online account you own. Even better, investigate options for getting a free or low-cost password manager such as Bitwarden, Dashlane, LastPass, and others. Newer to the marketplace are passkeys that offer hope that we canmove beyond passwords.Theyverify a user with abiometric (like facial or fingerprint recognition) tied to the devicebeing used to gain access.You can read moreabout them at aarp.org/personal-technology/passkeys-future.  

Second, set up multi-factor authentication when available as added security thatgoes beyond yourusername and password to verify that it’s you using your account or device. 

Third, turn on automatic software updates to keep your devices up-to-date and secure.   

And finally, know that it's no longer safe to click on links from emails, texts, and online ads. Instead,type web addresses into your browser to ensure you aren’t sent to a copycat site andstick to sites you know and trust. 

Learn how to spot and avoid scams with AARP Fraud Watch Network™. Suspect a scam? Call our free helpline at 877-908-3360 and talk to one of our fraud specialists about what to do next. 

Need a scam prevention speaker for your group? Send an email to me@aarp.org.