Cyber Safety for Everyone in New Britain

Weak or reused passwords are the #1 way accounts get hacked. These three rules make your passwords nearly impossible to crack.

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  Make them longUse at least 16 characters. Try a passphrase: five random unrelated words strung together.
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  Make them complexMix uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid obvious substitutions like "P@ssw0rd."
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  Make every password uniqueUse a different password for every account. A password manager makes this effortless — you only remember one master password.

MFA is one of the single best ways to protect your accounts. Even if attackers steal your password, MFA blocks them.

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  What MFA isA second step after your password — a code sent to your phone, a push notification, or your fingerprint.
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  How to turn it onGo to Settings → Security on any account and look for "Two-Factor" or "Multi-Step Verification."
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  Which method to chooseAuthenticator apps are most secure. Text codes are also far better than nothing.

Phishing uses fake emails and texts to steal your information. AI has made these scams harder to detect by grammar alone.

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  Recognize the warning signsUrgent language, requests for passwords, suspicious sender addresses, misspelled website names.
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  Report itForward phishing emails to [email protected]. Report texts to 7726 (SPAM).
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  Delete it — do not clickDelete without clicking any link. If unsure, call the company on their official number.

These four habits — endorsed by CISA — stop the vast majority of attacks. Each is free and takes minutes.

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  Strong passwords + password managerUnique passwords for every account, stored safely in a password manager.
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  Multi-factor authenticationA second step every time you log in. Stolen passwords become useless.
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  Recognize and report phishingPause before clicking links. If something feels off — delete it and report it.
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  Update your software immediatelyUpdates fix security holes attackers exploit. Enable automatic updates.