Be cyber secure: Hone your password-writing skills with this quiz

Summary

• Effective incident response requires quick action and clear communication to contain damage and protect accounts before the full extent of an incident is known.
• Immediately disconnect by unplugging the internet or power cable from the Wi-Fi router.
• Determine the type of event, assess success, identify lost or damaged items, scan devices for infected files or malicious programs using a strong antivirus program, apply software patches, and update security settings.
• Consult a cybersecurity professional to eradicate suspicious programs and establish better defenses if no antivirus program exists or if it is outdated.
• Reset all passwords and systems access controls for family members connected to the home Wi-Fi using an uncompromised device.
• Change passwords on all sites containing personal or financial information and update passwords for any apps on affected devices.
• Begin recovery of systems, files, and data to pre-incident status after eradicating intrusion evidence and confirming password resets, including recovering corrupted files from backups.
• Contact banks and financial institutions to report compromised accounts and fraudulent transactions, request account freezes, and place fraud alerts or credit freezes with all credit bureaus.
• Notify any company on whose platform the threat was detected.
• Document the incident to learn from the event and strengthen defenses against future cybercrime attempts.
• Stay informed about emerging or trending cyber threats reported in the media to help guard against growing online risks.
• Contact law enforcement to file a report if evidence of stolen account credentials or data is found or if financial loss occurs.
• Bank of America and its affiliates do not provide information security or IT consulting services, and the material is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind.
• The material serves as general information on information security and IT considerations and is not a substitute for independent investigations or specific professional advice.
• Bank of America Private Bank is a division of Bank of America, N.A., a Member FDIC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation.