3 Tips for Passwords, Scams, and Cybersecurity
1. Use Unique and Complex Passwords
Cybercriminals use advanced tools to crack weak passwords, making the reliance on simple or reused passwords, a significant risk. Make sure to create a unique password for each of your accounts, avoiding personal information, and instead using varieties of special characters, numbers, and letters. Don’t fret about keeping track of these passwords, consider utilizing a password manager to securely store them. Enabling multifactor authentication on high importance accounts, like digital banking, can also help reduce your risk of information compromission. It’s likely your financial institution, and other high-value apps, have multifactor authentication in place for you.
- Create unique passwords for each account
- Use a password manager to securely store and manage your passwords
- Enable multifactor authentication (MFA)
2. Be Wary of Scams
Scammers continue to advance and get more sophisticated, finding new ways to hack personal information. They seek opportunities pretending to be people and institutions that you trust, so always be extremely cautious before providing information including your social security number, passwords, or sensitive account information. Trusted institutions, like KEMBA, will never ask you for your personal information via text, email, or phone call. If you ever have doubts about an interaction, call the organization directly to confirm the authenticity.
Staying alert to new tech scams can also help you avoid information breaches. For example, phishing, emails or texts that use links to steal your information, are currently rising in popularity; make sure you think before you click. A good example of a popular scam in 2025 is happening to thousands of Americans who are receiving a text from someone appearing to be collecting unpaid tolls. You click, and they win. If it seems fishy to you, be on high alert before you consider clicking any links and engaging in communication.
- Scammers often impersonate trusted people or institutions
- Never share sensitive info (e.g., SSN, passwords)
- Stay informed about new scams
3. Take Immediate Action
If something feels off, make sure you act on it as soon as possible. Got a weird message that seems like it’s from your bank? Call them directly. Clicked something suspicious? Change your passwords immediately and run a security scan.
Digital advancements are inevitable and will continue to prevail, but by staying alert you can take the proper precautions to protect your data and sensitive information. KEMBA’s cyber-security center, Stay Safe Online with KEMBA's Cybersecurity Center, is a good place to help you stay on top of threats and access helpful tips and resources, for example.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions about your accounts, or what to do if you’ve fallen for a scam and are worried your account information is in the wrong hands.
- If it feels off, it probably is
- Act quickly if something seems wrong
- Visit KEMBA’s Cybersecurity Center for tips and resources