Think about all the sensitive information that passes through your computer or phone every single day. You might check your bank account, open an investment statement, send a tax document, approve a payment, access payroll information, make a purchase, or receive an email from someone who appears to be a customer or vendor.

Each interaction creates another reason to pay attention to cybersecurity.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an annual campaign led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). For 2026, the theme is “Securing the Next 250,” recognizing the nation’s 250th anniversary and encouraging individuals and organizations to take practical steps that support a safer digital future.

For individuals, cybersecurity often starts with protecting the accounts and devices that contain personal and financial information. Businesses face those same concerns while also managing employee access, customer and vendor information, business systems, and the ability to continue operating after a disruption. Cybersecurity Awareness Month provides a good reason to review both.

For Individuals: Make Your Accounts Harder to Compromise

Many cybersecurity precautions begin with something familiar: the accounts you use every day. Your email account deserves particular attention because it often connects to other services. Password-reset messages, financial notifications, tax correspondence, and account verification requests may all arrive there. Someone who gains access to your email may be able to use that access in attempts to compromise other accounts.

Start by reviewing the accounts that contain sensitive information or provide access to it. These may include email, banking, investment, accounting, tax, shopping, and social media accounts.

Use Unique Passwords and a Password Manager

Reusing the same password across several accounts creates unnecessary exposure. If someone obtains that password from one compromised account, they can try the same credentials elsewhere. Even worse? They can sell your information to the highest bidder through the dark web.

CISA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommend password management tools such as Continue reading… Continue reading… Continue reading…