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October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but protecting your personal and financial information is important all year long.

Cybercriminals are constantly looking for new ways to access accounts, steal personal information, and trick people into sharing information they normally wouldn’t. The good news? Some of the most effective ways to protect yourself are also some of the simplest.

At FNB Community Bank, we want our customers to feel confident navigating an increasingly digital world. Here are five habits that can help strengthen your cybersecurity and protect what matters most.

1. Strengthen Your Passwords

Your pet’s name is adorable. Your pet’s name + 123? Not so great for a password.

Strong passwords are one of your first lines of defense against unauthorized access. Choose passwords that are long, unique, and difficult to guess, and avoid using easily accessible personal information such as names, birthdays, or other familiar details.

Just as importantly, avoid reusing the same password across multiple accounts. If one account is compromised, a reused password could give a criminal access to several others.

A reputable password manager can also help you create and securely keep track of unique passwords without having to remember every one.

2. Don’t Make Your Password Do All the Work

Two steps. More protection.

Multi-factor authentication, often called MFA, adds another layer of security beyond your username and password. Depending on the account, that second step might be a code, an authentication app, a text message, or biometric verification such as your fingerprint or face.

Think of it as adding another locked door between a cybercriminal and your information. Even if someone obtains your password, MFA can make it much more difficult for them to access your account.

When multi-factor authentication is available, turn it on.

3. Don’t Take the Bait

Phishing emails and “smishing” text messages are designed to look legitimate and convince you to act before you have time to question what you’re seeing.

Stop. Look. Think before you click.

Be cautious when an unexpected email or text:

• Creates a sense of urgency or tells you to act immediately.

• Includes an unexpected link or attachment.

• Requests your password, PIN, security code, or other sensitive information.

• Comes from a sender, email address, or phone number that doesn’t look quite right.

Scammers may try to impersonate a financial institution or another company you trust. A familiar logo or convincing message doesn’t necessarily mean the communication is legitimate.

Unexpected message? Go straight to the source.

Instead of clicking the link in the message, open your banking app or website yourself. If you’re unsure about a communication claiming to be from FNB Community Bank, contact us using contact information you already know and trust—not a phone number or link provided in the suspicious message.

4. Keep an Eye on Your Accounts

One of the best ways to spot potential fraud is simply paying attention.

Make a habit of reviewing your bank and credit card accounts regularly. Look for purchases, transfers, withdrawals, or other activity you don’t recognize—even small transactions.

Account alerts can also provide another layer of awareness by helping you stay informed when activity occurs on your accounts.

The sooner you notice something unusual, the sooner you can take action.

5. Don’t Ignore Something That Doesn’t Look Right

The scariest thing you’ll see this Halloween might not be a ghost or a monster.

It might be a transaction you don’t recognize.

If something looks suspicious, investigate it. Don’t assume an unfamiliar transaction is harmless or wait to see if another one appears. Review your account, verify the transaction, and contact your financial institution promptly if you believe your information or account may have been compromised.

Cybersecurity isn’t about being afraid to use technology. It’s about knowing how to use it wisely.

Small Habits Can Make a Big Difference

Cybersecurity can sound complicated, but protecting yourself often comes down to a few everyday habits: create stronger passwords, use multi-factor authentication, think before you click, monitor your accounts, and speak up when something doesn’t look right.

And remember: scammers rely on urgency. You are always allowed to slow down, verify a request, and go directly to the source before providing information or taking action.

At FNB Community Bank, protecting our customers is a responsibility we take seriously. This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we encourage you to take a few minutes to review your own digital habits and make sure your information has the protection it deserves.

Stay alert. Stay informed. Stay secure.