I am new to this group and it is a pleasure to meet everyone! I am currently in the process of starting my own cybersecurity consulting business that is focused on helping small businesses, non-profits, and family offices protect themselves from the digital threat. Sadly, more than 60% of small businesses go out of business after experiencing a cyber attack but there are some simple things that people and business can do to protect themselves and I am writing a e-book to help individuals understand what they can do. I would love to share some chapters / content with this group to see if it is helpful, if it makes sense, or if it is too technical. My goal is to provide value in a space that is often confusing...at best. Below is a chapter on how to secure your digital accounts. I hope it helps and I look forward to your feedback. If it is helpful, I will continue to post more information. Securing your Accounts Why Securing Your Accounts Is the Foundation of Digital Safety In your digital life, accounts are crucial. They serve as gateways to your email, banking, healthcare records, shopping history, social media, and even your children's education. If a hacker gains access to just one of these accounts, especially your email, they can often use it to compromise everything else. Many people mistakenly believe that attackers need advanced tools or extensive knowledge to break in. The reality is much simpler: they exploit common human habits. Weak passwords, reused credentials, and unsecured logins are the tools they rely on. Here’s are a few examples of common attacks: · Credential stuffing: Hackers use leaked email/password combinations from previous data breaches and attempt to access thousands of other sites with them. · Phishing: They deceive you into providing your login information through fake emails, websites, or texts. · Brute force attacks: Attackers use automated software to guess weak or commonly used passwords. A password like "sunshine23" or "Welcome!" can be cracked within seconds. In contrast, a strong, random password of 16 characters or more would take billions of years to crack.

This dinner sold out last year! Don't miss it this year. We will have a few key speakers and an opportunity to give back to our Veterans. This is offered to this group first.