Staying One Step Ahead of Cyber Treats
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a reminder that protecting personal information and digital systems requires ongoing attention. At McLeod Co-op Power, cybersecurity supports nearly every part of daily operations, from managing member accounts and processing payments to field work and outage restoration.
How MCPA Protects Your Information
McLeod Co-op Power uses multiple layers of protection to keep our information secure. Because threats continue to evolve, those protections are regularly reviewed. The cooperative also reviews policies, tests response plans, and evaluations new security tools. These protections include:
- Firewalls
- Email filtering
- Monthly employee training
- Password protections
- Security monitoring software
- Regular backups
- Software updates
- Multi-factor authenticication
When accessing your McLeod Co-op Power account or making a payment, go directly through the cooperative’s website or SmartHub app rather than clicking links in unexpected messages. If you receive a suspicious communication claiming to be from McLeod Co-op Power, do not click links, open attachments or provide personal or payment information. Instead, contact the cooperative directly at (320) 864-3148 or through the contact form on our website.
Red Flags
Cyber criminal attempts may come through email, text messages, or phone calls. Watch for these red flags when receiving an email or text message from an unknown sender:
- Creating a sense of urgency to make you act quickly
- Requests for immediate payment
- Suspicious email addresses
- Requests for personal information
- Suspicious links or attachments
- Poor grammar and/or spelling
Protect Your Personal Accounts & Information
Be cautious of unexpected messages requesting personal information or immediate action. Take the time to think and question what you received. Confirm it’s validity before opening any attachments, clicking on any links, or replying to the sender. Take these precautions to protect your accounts and personal information:
- Use strong, unique passwords
- Turn on multi-factor authentication when available
- Keep your devices updated
- Never share passwords or verification codes
- Log out of shared devices when not in use
- Delete apps and accounts you no longer use
The simplest advice may also be the most effective: pause before you click. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. Strong protections at the cooperative, combined with smart online habits from members, can help keep information, accounts and services secure.