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October is spooky enough with its ghouls and goblins. National Cybersecurity Awareness Month is here to remind us how to stay safe and secure from real (and maybe even scarier) threats – malware and scammers.

Help us celebrate by joining a Twitter chat we’ll be participating in on October 18th at 3pm EST. In this chat, you’ll hear how to create a more cyber secure workplace. Join the conversation by following @FTC and watching the #ChatSTC hashtag.

In the meantime, here are some quick tips for staying safe online:

  • Update your software. Outdated software makes it easier for criminals to break into your computer and other devices. Most software can update automatically, so make sure to set yours to do so.
  • Make your password long, strong and complex. That means at least twelve characters, with uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid common words, phrases or information in your passwords.
  • Use multi-factor authentication, when available. For accounts that support it, multi-factor authentication requires both your password and an additional piece of information to log in.The second piece could be a code generated by an app or a key that’s inserted into a computer. This protects your account even if your password is compromised.
  • Back up your files. No system is completely secure. Copy your files to an external hard drive or cloud storage. If your computer is attacked by malware, you’ll still have access to your files.
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Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Jonnie bone
October 11, 2018
Go get them why do we have these type people. To pray on the sheep pf the world. Jonnie bone#$!
Margo
October 10, 2018
In the past 12 months my email account has been hacked and I was the victim of an internet security scam that cost me $950. Thank you, FTC, for performing a valuable service to consumers. I deeply appreciate it and read your alerts.
rushyBay
October 16, 2018
I have received a bogus email purporting to be from Century Link, from "Marlie", email ctlbill@ centurylink. com, and they have my email, Century Link account etc., and they are telling me my accounts is past due ( its not ), and asking me to follow the link so she can help me make a payment, by credit card I presume. I have contacted Century Link with this information, and am waiting for their response, but I thought I should notify you about a potential compomise to the Century Link customer base, How did they get my Information? Thanks, and keep up the good work.
Carmen2016
October 10, 2018
Thank ftc.
WhoCalledMe
October 10, 2018
I have received two recorded calls today on my cell phone saying they were calling from the Social Security Office - mobile phone 800-772-1213. When I researched it gave the address as 5520 Gatlin Ave. #102, Orlando, FL 32812. The message was to press one now to connect to SSA, and that if I didn't my SSN would be blocked permanently. Although the address and phone number were correct, I believe this was really a bogus call.
Chele911
October 15, 2018

In reply to by WhoCalledMe

Yes, these scammers spoof caller ID and will "scrape" real info to make them seem legit. Just remember- the Social Security Office will NOT call you (unless you have initiated the conversation with them), just like the IRS will NOT call you, federal agents and law enforcement will not give you a "head's up" that they are coming to arrest you. Publisher's Clearing House doesn't call you to tell you that you have won- you will never have to pay anything up front to claim a prize...etc, etc...
John
October 10, 2018
Great support and help. Keep up the good work in helping to combat this new wave of this crime spree.
Gunruner
October 11, 2018
Great advice. However, we (USA) needs much stronger rules with "TEETH" in them when malware and scammers are apprehended. If our FBI or other government department would make greater efforts to capture these crooks and provide the courts a law with "teeth" with mandatory sentencing, I believe the word would get out and it would diminish or even stop as the numbers of crooks became fewer.
victimoradulterer
October 15, 2018
Husband claims his "phone was hacked" and that's why there are inappropriate messages in his FB messenger. It was an entire dialogue, plans to meet up, pics, etc. His excuse sounds like BS to me. He insists he was hacked, and he is being set up. Is it even possible for this to happen?
PDMarler
December 21, 2018
For nearly three years my family has been wanting assistance from Comm.s Agencies, Departments, and locals. We have been on the no-call list for some time, SO WE THOUGHT! The ones that want to intrude will, the officials are either blind to the actions of these people or they don't have the solution to the problems that leave families with shut-down devices and no recourse for privacy.
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