6 FALL 2025 Myth: I have a strong password, so I don't need to worry. It's great if you have a long and strong passwordwith a blend of letters, numbers, and special characters. However, you needmore than one. Every account and device should have its own password—don’t use the same one inmultiple places, regardless of how strong it is. If you reuse passwords, itmeans that if one of your accounts is hacked, all of your other accounts are at risk. It’s also recommended that you enableMFA (multifactor authentication) for every account, which doubles up your protection beyond your password.The few seconds required to enter a code sent to your phone is well worth the added security. Myth: Password managers aren't safe because they could get hacked. Sometimes people express concerns about storing all their passwords in one place. However, high-quality passwordmanagers are the safest way to store your passwords.These programs also ensure that you're using strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts. Because of the technology passwordmanagers use, the passwordmanager company doesn't even know your master password. When you enableMFA on your passwordmanager, it becomes evenmore secure.There have been incidents when passwordmanager companies get hacked. However, when you use a strongmaster password andMFA, you canmaintain your security even in these situations.This is why passwordmanagers are safer than notebooks, sticky notes, or documents saved on your computer. Myth: Phishing emails will always be obvious. I’ll know them when I see them. Thismythmay have been true at one time, but that’s no longer the case. Due to thewidespread use of AI, both grammar and spelling in phishing emails have improved significantly in recent years, making themharder to spot. Some scammessages can appear almost identical tomessages from trusted sources.What you need to look for now is a sense of urgency. Is the message unexpected? Is it trying to get you to act quicklywithout thinking? There are lots of myths about cybersecurity. Let’s debunk a few common ones. WHAT ARE SYMMETRICAL INTERNET SPEEDS? The internet is a two-way street. Download speed is how quickly you pull data from the internet to your device, and upload speed is how fast you can send data from your device to the internet. Symmetrical speeds mean that your upload and download speeds are the same. For example, if you have a 500 Mbps symmetrical internet plan, both your download and upload speeds are 500 Mbps. Fiber is the only broadband type capable of symmetrical speeds. By comparison, cable or DSL services generally offer high download speeds but much slower upload speeds. If you work from home, upload speeds are critical. They boost video conferencing quality, reduce the time to upload files, and improve cloud-based applications and backup services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud. In addition, smart home security cameras require fast upload speeds to streamwhat they capture and enable you to watch while you’re away. Consolidated’s fiber internet plans offer symmetrical speeds ranging from 2.5 Gig to 100 Mbps. Visit www.consolidatednd.com for details. DEBUNKING COMMON CYBERSECURITY MYTHS
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