Protecting yourself online doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. A few simple habits can dramatically reduce your risk of falling victim to cybercrime. While you can never be hackproof, you can become resilient in the online world.

These simple steps will help shield your personal information, protect your online accounts, and keep your devices secure.

Use long, unique, and complex passwords. Your passwords are the first line of defense between a criminal and your sensitive information. Here’s how to have amazing passwords:

• Every password must be long, unique, and complex. Nowadays, every password should be at least 16 characters long, which significantly overwhelms password-cracking programs. Use a random mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Don’t reuse passwords. Every account needs a unique password. Unfortunately, making small changes, like adding numbers or switching out an S with a $, doesn’t count as a unique password.
• Use a password manager to store and generate strong passwords. If you’re wondering how to manage so many unique, long passwords, the answer is a password manager! There are many free, secure options. Password managers are the safest way to store your passwords. If you prefer to keep a password notebook, treat it like cash.

Enable multifactor authentication (MFA). Multifactor authentication (sometimes called 2FA) adds an extra security layer by requiring something more than just your password to log in. Think of it as using two locks on your digital door instead of only one. This could be:

• A one-time code sent to your phone
• A biometric scan, like a fingerprint scan or Face ID
• A physical security key

Enable MFA on your accounts, especially email, banking, and social media. It’s a simple way to supercharge the security on your accounts. Also, never share MFA codes with anyone, this includes not sharing them over the phone, through texts, or via email. Only scammers will ask for MFA codes.