With Cybercrime on the Rise, Bloomfield Township Police Share Prevention Tips
(Bloomfield Township, Oct. 28, 2023)
Bloomfield Township, MI – Computers are completely entrenched in our daily lives, from work to our home lives and everywhere in between. In October, National Cybersecurity Awareness serves as a reminder to make sure that we act prudently and responsibly each and every time we access the internet.
Studies estimate there is a hacker attack every thirty-nine seconds. In 2022, the FBI estimated that Michiganders lost $181 million to cybercrimes. Additionally, the state of Michigan ranks 8th in cybercrimes reported.
Here in Bloomfield Township, computer-based identity theft is among the most prevalent crimes. Public Information Officer Nick Soley states, “we all rely on the internet in our everyday lives. We just need to be smart and not make ourselves an easy target for scams. We want our seniors to be especially cautious when shopping online. And when it comes to social media to be sure to limit the amount of personal information you post online and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely.”
He also adds, “make sure the website address starts with “https,” since the ‘s’ stands for secure. Look for the padlock icon at the bottom of your browser, which indicates that the site uses encryption. Type new website URLs directly into the address bar instead of clicking on links or cutting and pasting from the email.”
Per Bloomfield Township Director of IT Wil Babinchak, it’s very simple. “Stop and think before you click. If you are unsure about a link in an e-mail? Delete it.” He recommends downloading Michigan Secure App. It’s free to download via Google Play and the Apple Store.
The internet is both a useful tool for knowledge and a resource that guides our daily financial well-being. National Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a reminder on the importance of staying informed and safe. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) provides a number of resources and information. They also have Four Easy Steps for staying safe online:
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are long, random, unique and include all four character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols). Password managers are a powerful tool to help you create strong passwords for each of your accounts.
Turn On MFA
You need more than a password to protect your online accounts and enabling MFA makes you significantly less likely to get hacked. Enable MFA on all your online accounts that offer it, especially email, social media and financial accounts.
Recognize & Report Phishing
Be cautious of unsolicited messages asking for personal information. Avoid sharing sensitive information or credentials with unknown sources. Report phishing attempts and delete the message.
Update Software
Ensuring your software is up to date is the best way to make sure you have the latest security patches and updates on your devices. Regularly check for updates if automatic updates are not available.
Finally, if you do believe you are the victim of cybercrime please contact the Bloomfield Township Police Department. They offer a series of tips via BTPD Crime Prevention.
