Computers taking over everything is a two-edged sword – they have made life easier, but they also have made us more and more dependent on them staying up and healthy.

Before an attack, which the pros think is inevitable, here is what you need to know and do.

Financial

1.    Use cash instead of credit or debit cards.  I know this sounds inconvenient, and almost sounds ancient, but to me, cash is still king – your personal information won’t be breached, and your purchases are not tracked if you went back to using cash.  Plus, since you only have a certain amount, you will not be likely to overspend.

2.    When shopping online, use a credit instead of a debit card.  Credit cards offer more protection than debit cards if your information is stolen and you have to deny the fraudulent charges.

3.    Have a cash emergency fund in a safe place.

4.    Have a backup way to pay bills.

5.    Keep a book of stamps, as well as extra checks in case you do have to mail checks.

6.    Guard your passwords carefully and do not store them online.  Periodically change your passwords using more complex combinations of characters instead of easy ones.

7.    Avoid giving out your social security number and other personal identifying information unless absolutely necessary.

8.    Do not click on unsolicited email links, attachments etc.  If you receive email from your financial institution, do not click on the link within the email, instead, log in directly to their website, or call the 800 number to find out the issue.

Home

1.    Store a minimum of two weeks worth of water and food.  Even if you lose access to your bank accounts, your family will survive.

2.    Prepare for a power outage.

3.    Have a backup source of power such as a generator, solar chargers, and backup cooking alternatives.

4.    Backup your documents and photos – don’t store everything online.

5.    Backup your cell phone contact list in a hard copy.  If you are not able to access your phone contacts for any reason, you can still contact them via a land line, by mail or another network.

6.    If you live in an apartment building, know alternate ways to get into your unit if the remote control garage or gate opener does not work.

7.    If you have a newer TV that is connected to the internet, you need to be aware that information goes back and forth.  Your TV could be watching you and collecting data about you without your knowledge.

8.    Consider alternate methods of communication such as ham radio.

Whether the threat is a short-term attack on a public utility or a larger, more ominous threat of an Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP,) our electronic dependency could very well create a major survival situation where many would not fare well.

To counter that possibility, even if the more dire threat is obscure in terms of likelihood, you must take precautions; to learn more about how to protect yourself against a cyber attack, please visit Apartment Prepper.