SPRINGFIELD, Missouri – With increasing threats of cyber attacks across the world, The Springfield-Greene County Emergency Management Office is offering tips on how to stay secure.

The Associated Press reported Iran’s retaliation for the United States’ targeted killing of its top general is likely to include cyberattacks, security experts warned last Friday. Iran’s state-backed hackers are already among the world’s most aggressive and could inject malware that triggers major disruptions to the U.S. public and private sector

“Cyber attacks happen daily all around the world, so it is important to be aware of your social media footprint as well as how you operate on a daily basis with things like paying bills or shopping online,” said Larry Woods, Director of the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management in a press release. “Making sure you’re using secure sites and only sharing information on social media that has been vetted from reliable sources is of utmost importance for your personal preparedness.”

Here’s some ways you can make sure you’re protected and prepared.

• Be responsible for your personal safety. Do not share passwords or other sensitive information with others.
• Perform data backups on your devices and utilize a firewall. Combine with frequent scans to mitigate threats.
• Do not open attachments on emails from people you do not recognize or expect to hear from. Reach out and verify– better to be safe than sorry!
• On mobile devices, ensure your passcode is strong and lengthy. For instance, do not use “1-2-3-4” as your passcode. If possible, enable biometric scanning like facial recognition or fingerprint.
• When browsing sites, even those you commonly use, confirm you see “https” in the URL bar before providing any payment card information. The “s” indicates a secure site. If it is not secure, do not give any personally identifiable information.
• Use multi-factor authentication. This sends a passcode to your mobile device to authenticate your identity.
• Use complex passwords that do not include names or birthdates.
• Only accept adds/requests on social media from people you know in real life.
• Be aware of phone calls or email solicitations for personal information or requests for money.