CISCO (security software and hardware business) has been warning since March 18, 2024 that there will be a rise in hacking attempts using brute force (when the hackers flood an internet connection with usernames, raw data  continuously) to break down a door to the computer in hopes that the computer or website will be weak and open a door so they can do whatever damage their able to do.  This could be installing malware so they can lock up the computer/s and demand ransom, viruses that attach to documents, programs, emails, etc… or steal what personal information they can and sell it to the Dark web to be used in a few years when you forget about the theft.

You are urged to use strong passwords that are 15 characters or more to secure your accounts (including financial  and bank).  I know those long passwords are a pain in the rear, but if you use a good password manager program it will make life easier.  Google and Mozilla chrome (I also assume Microsoft Edge) browsers have the password managers builtin, I myself prefer a separate program that encrypts your passwords and requires a master password to unlock them.  Then it will auto-fill your site username and password when you visit the website.

Also you should enable 2FA (requires two forms of identification to access) on your accounts if available.  We have just enabled 2FA for all our user accounts.  2FA can come in many forms, the most common is a 6 digit number sent to your phone or email for you to enter in as the second password. We send an email with a very long link for you to click on in order to login.  While this may be harder than 6 digits, we believe it’s the safest in protecting your identity.

The hackers are going after VPN (Virtual Private Network) programs and ssh (secure shell allows connecting to another computer securely which is only referred here for inclusion) not used by your average computer person as well, along with antivirus and firewall programs.  Although I think using a VPN is the safest way to access your financial, banks or shopping on the internet, because VPN’s protect you on both sides of the connection.  So get out all the protection you can and buckle up.  You may hear of some horror stories.