STOP. THINK. CONNECT. is simple, actionable advice that everyone can follow to stay safer and more secure online.
- STOP: Before you use the Internet, take time to understand the risks and learn how to spot potential problems.
- THINK: Take a moment to be certain the path ahead is clear. Watch for warning signs and consider how your actions online could impact your safety, or your family’s safety.
- CONNECT: Enjoy the Internet with greater confidence, knowing you’ve taken the right steps to safeguard yourself and your computer.
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month and Heritage Bank encourages you to take security precautions, understand the consequences of your actions and behaviors and enjoy the benefits of the Internet.
Protect yourself and help keep the web a safer place for everyone. Heritage Bank is committed to increasing financial literacy of our customers and online community and provides quick and easy tips on good money management, learning more about credit, protecting yourself online and more.
The following research is based on a national survey on online behaviors and attitudes for the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG).
- 96 percent of Americans feel a personal responsibility to be safer and more secure online.
- 93 percent believe their online actions can protect not only friends and family but also help to make the Web safer for everyone around the world.
- 61 percent believe that much of online safety and security falls under their personal control, and consistent with those feelings, 90 percent said they want to learn more about keeping safer on the Internet.
- 48 percent feel their actions to stay safe and secure can have a positive impact on financial, economic, and national security of the country, indicating Americans are open to making the bridge between their own safety and the nation’s security.
- Concern about identity theft rates slightly higher than fears of job and healthcare loss.
- 54 percent of Americans are extremely concerned about loss of personal or financial information. To place this is in context, 53 percent are concerned about losing their jobs, while 51 percent feared not being able to provide healthcare for their family.
- Nearly two-thirds of the American public have heard, read or seen something about online safety and security issues recently. However, most of what the news they remember is negative: identity theft, privacy loss, and increased frequency of attacks.
- When asked why they don’t always do all the things they can or should do to stay safer online, Americans said they simply lacked the information or knowledge (28 percent) – a surprising finding that surpassed other hurdles often cited by the media. Only 12 percent said online safety was too expensive, while just 5 percent said they were too busy to take the extra step.
