31 Days, 31 Ways to Stay Cyber Safe

Every October, the cybersecurity community observes Cybersecurity Awareness Month to remind all of us that staying safe online is not about being a technology expert. It is about small, consistent habits. This year, we are keeping it simple: one tip for each day of the month. None of these takes more than a few minutes, and together they can add up to meaningful protection for you, your family, and your money.

Week 1: Lock Down Your Logins

Oct. 1: Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA) for your online banking, email, and any account that offers it. It is one of the most effective steps on this list.

Oct. 2: Use a different password for every account. Your online banking password should not be used anywhere else, period.

Oct. 3: Go long. A passphrase of four random words, such as “coffee-harbor-maple-tune,” is stronger and easier to remember than a short, complicated password.

Oct. 4: Try a password manager. It remembers every password for you, so you only need one strong master password.

Oct. 5: Change the default password on your home Wi-Fi router if you have never done so. Default passwords are often published online.

Oct. 6: Turn on account alerts in online banking so you receive a text or email for logins and transactions. Early detection can help limit losses and speed resolution.

Oct. 7: Check the recovery phone number and email on your important accounts. If they are outdated, an old number or email address could become someone else’s way in.

Week 2: Spot the Scams

Oct. 8: Pause before you click. Scammers often use urgency, such as “act now” or “your account will be closed,” to push you into acting before you think. If a message seems urgent, contact the organization using a phone number or website you know is legitimate.

Oct. 9: Hover over links before clicking to preview where they really go. On a phone, press and hold the link to see the address.

Oct. 10: Remember this one all year: Coulee Bank will never call, text, or email you asking for your password, PIN, or a one-time security code.

Oct. 11: If “the bank” calls you, hang up and call back using the number on the back of your card, on your statement, or on our official website. A real banker will not mind.

Oct. 12: Watch for scam texts, often called smishing: fake package deliveries, fake toll notices, and fake fraud alerts. Do not tap the link. Go to the source directly instead.

Oct. 13: Be cautious if someone unexpectedly demands payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, cash, or a wire transfer, especially if they pressure you to act quickly or keep it secret. Stop and verify the request independently before sending money.

Oct. 14: Talk with the seniors in your life about phone scams. Older adults are frequently targeted, and one conversation can help prevent a devastating loss.

Week 3: Secure Your Devices

Oct. 15: Turn on automatic updates for your phone, computer, and web browser. Many updates help close security vulnerabilities.

Oct. 16: Update the devices that do not automatically update, including your router, smart TV, and smart home gadgets.

Oct. 17: Lock your phone with a PIN, fingerprint, or face unlock. Your phone holds your email, and your email can reset almost everything else.

Oct. 18: Back up what matters using the 3-2-1 rule: keep three copies of your files, on two types of storage, with one kept offsite or in the cloud.

Oct. 19: Avoid banking or shopping on unsecured public Wi-Fi. Use cellular data, a personal hotspot, or a trusted network when possible.

Oct. 20: Download apps only from the official app store, and check the publisher and reviews first. Fake banking apps do exist.

Oct. 21: Before you sell, donate, or recycle a device, complete a full factory reset so your personal data does not go with it.

Week 4: Protect Your Money and Identity

Oct. 22: Review your bank and card statements every month and report anything unfamiliar right away. You are one of the best fraud detectors we have.

Oct. 23: Check your credit report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for accounts you do not recognize.

Oct. 24: Consider freezing your credit if you see something suspicious in your credit report with all three bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A credit freeze is free and can help prevent someone from opening new credit in your name.

Oct. 25: Treat Zelle and other payment apps like cash. Send money only to people you know and trust, because payments sent to a scammer are often difficult or impossible to reverse.

Oct. 26: Shred documents that show account numbers or personal information before they go into the trash or recycling bin.

Oct. 27: Share less on social media. Birthdays, pet names, and the name of your first school can be answers to security questions and useful clues for password guesses.

Oct. 28: Reach online banking through our official app or a saved bookmark, rather than a link in an ad, email, text message, or search result. Scammers can create ads and websites that imitate legitimate financial institutions.

The Home Stretch 🥚

Oct. 29: If you think you have been scammed, act fast: contact Coulee Bank directly, change affected passwords, monitor your accounts, and report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Quick action can help limit the damage.

Oct. 30: Set up a family “safe word.” Scammers can use AI to clone the voices of loved ones in fake emergency calls. A private code word can help your family verify that an emergency is real.

Oct. 31: Happy Halloween! The scariest thing online is a reused password. Pick your favorite tip from this month and turn it into a year-round habit.

One Last Thing

If something ever feels off with your account, or you are not sure whether a call, text, or email is really from us, contact us directly using the phone number on the back of your card, on your statement, or on our official website. We would much rather answer a false alarm than help you recover from a real one.