Archives - Cybersecurity Tips

How to make your devices lock faster: Screen timeout settings that protect your privacy

You put your phone down to collect a coffee or leave your laptop to answer the door. If the screen stays unlocked, someone nearby may access your messages, photos or signed-in accounts. Shorten the idle timeout and require authentication immediately after locking or sleep. Better yet, lock manually before stepping away. The FBI’s 2025 Internet […]

Is public Wi-Fi safe for banking and shopping? How to protect your money

Free airport Wi-Fi feels convenient when you need to check a balance or grab a sale. But before entering a password or card number, check your connection. For sensitive transactions, choose cellular data, your own hotspot or a properly secured home network instead of an unfamiliar public hotspot. The stakes deserve attention: the FBI’s 2025 […]

Unused smart devices: How to disconnect dormant IoT devices safely

That forgotten security camera or smart plug may still be working—even when you never open its app. If an unused Internet of Things (IoT) device stays powered and connected, it can remain reachable through your network or its cloud service. Inventory your devices, identify what you no longer need and disconnect those extras safely. This […]

How to check your online privacy before sharing personal information

Before you hand a website your name, email or phone number, check what happens next. Read its privacy policy, inspect its sharing choices and submit only what you need to use the service. You cannot verify every behind-the-scenes practice, but you can avoid giving away information blindly. You are not alone if this feels confusing. […]

Fewer accounts, fewer devices: How digital decluttering improves security

The stakes are real. The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Complaint Center summary recorded $1.3 billion in reported personal data breach losses. Reducing unnecessary accounts and devices cannot prevent every breach, but it limits the number of services holding your information and the number of entry points an attacker can try. Why do unused accounts increase […]

Online dating profile safety: What personal information should you keep private?

The financial risk is serious, too. The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Complaint Center summary recorded $929 million in reported confidence and romance scam losses. Safer profiles cannot stop every dishonest match, but limiting public details makes targeting, password guessing and convincing impersonation harder. What information should you leave off a dating profile? Can dating profile […]