You hear a new story almost every day. Cybercriminals use social engineering to bypass technology safeguards and security protection to infiltrate email systems, bank accounts, credit card accounts, member databases, and other areas containing sensitive data. The criminals then utilize the data to steal money and identities, create access for future attacks, or in the case of obtaining compromising personal data, as the basis for extortion attempts. And the financial results can be devastating.

Cybersecurity attacks can feel like vague, distant, ambiguous things that “happen to other people.” It’s easy to kid ourselves into thinking we’d never fall for a cyberattack, but the unfortunate reality is that this happens to incredibly smart and accomplished people all of the time. Cybersecurity attacks aren’t so obvious anymore, and they’re not passive either. Schemes have gotten sneakier, more personal, and usually involve actively tricking a user.

Multi-factor authentication (“MFA”) has emerged as an important tool to provide an additional level of verification beyond user passwords to protect information systems and user data. The goal of MFA is to verify identity and to make sure that the person logging into an account really is the person they are claiming to be. 

The unfortunate truth is that cyber criminals are getting smarter and sneakier with their attacks, and we have seen an increase in phishing emails preying on churches specifically as of late. These cyber criminals are smart, and they know that churches are “in the business” of caring for and helping people. They create false scenarios that prey on your generosity, kindness, and willingness to welcome people who are new or lonely.

Cybersecurity can feel overwhelming. We get it. We really do. It feels like there are so many things you should be and could be doing, and honestly, that is the truth. Cybersecurity requires an active and preventative approach, much like insurance. You must be proactive and invest in security measures before something bad happens. 

It’s not news that secure passwords are the number one end-user security measure you can take to ensure you are safe online. Surely by now you’ve heard how dangerous it is to use the same password for every account you have — but remembering multiple strong passwords is very difficult. 

How to Ensure Your Church is SAFE Online: 8 Myths Executive Pastors and Church Administrators Believe About Cyber Security

During these unprecedented times of “social distancing,” “shelter-in-place,” and “stay-at-home” orders, everyone is having to learn or experiment with new technology and work habits. For many people, this will mark their first exposure to remote work and virtual settings.