October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Check out these tips to help you keep you and your loved ones safe online.

Smart homes connect us to the technology that makes our lives easier. All that technology can also open up our homes to security issues. But, we can reduce the risk. Protect your personal data with these simple steps and enjoy your devices with peace of mind.

• Keep your software and devices up to date.
• Use strong passwords with at least 12 characters.
• Enable password security for your home network and change it regularly.
• Use secure internet connection protocols, such as HTTPS for online transactions.
• Use anti-virus software on computers and firewalls on your home network.
• Encrypt your personal files.
• Turn off wireless technology — like Bluetooth — when not in use.
• Cover the webcam on your laptop when not in use.
• Verify the source and login procedures before using public networks.
• Use common sense. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Limit how much private information you share online.
• Change privacy settings and block location features unless they are essential.

Tightening up security will help you feel more comfortable using the technology in your home, but compromises can still happen. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has advice for identifying and responding to a breach.

• Look for unexplained charges or accounts on your credit report.
• If there is a breach, change the password for all your online accounts.
• Turn off affected devices.
• Contact your financial institutions to let them know.
• File a report with local police so there is a criminal record of the incident.
• File a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Protecting yourself and your family from cyber threats can seem daunting, but following these basic guidelines can go a long way to help keep you safe.