Released: September 28, 2016

Consumer Action joins White House campaign to ‘Lock Down Your Login’

Advice to help consumers enable the strongest authentication tools for online accounts

Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 202-544-3088

Consumer Action today announced its commitment to the National Cyber Security Alliance’s “Lock Down Your Login” internet safety and security initiative to empower Americans to better protect their online accounts by moving beyond passwords. The campaign, which was announced by the White House in February 2016 as part of its Cybersecurity National Action Plan, calls for all Americans to fortify their online accounts by enabling the strongest authentication tools available so everyone can enjoy a greater peace of mind knowing their online accounts are more secure.

In 2015 alone, an estimated $15 billion was stolen from 13.1 million U.S. consumers due to identity fraud.1 Usernames and passwords simply are not enough to secure online accounts. While hackers and criminals continue to evolve their attack techniques, 72 percent of Americans still believe their accounts are secure with only a username and password.2 Millions of Americans have had their online accounts hacked because of stolen credentials or weak logins, but many are either unaware or not using widely available, simple technologies to better secure their online accounts. With the most common passwords in the country remaining 123456 and 123456789, this false sense of confidence is leaving the door open to hackers looking to steal identities and valuable personal information.

Responding to the challenge, the “Lock Down Your Login” campaign was created to help Americans minimize personal risk to cybercrime by educating and empowering them to better protect their key social media, email and bank accounts by enabling strong authentication – sometimes called multi-factor, two-factor or login approval. While no security measure is foolproof, a few easy steps—such as using a separate small device you have in your possession, verifying identity via biometrics like voice, facial recognition, fingerprint or iris-scan or by using a unique one-time code through an app on your mobile device—can make it much harder for hackers to disrupt our digital daily lives. Implementing strong authentication ensures it’s actually the user trying to access the account and not just someone with the correct password tying to log in which can alleviate some of the worry about being online.

"Every day we hear of more and more data breaches," said Linda Sherry at Consumer Action. "Nothing can make you 100% safe from online breaches and frauds, but there are new techiques and tools that consumers should know about and this new campaign can help spread the word."

The “Lock Down Your Login” campaign is a STOP. THINK. CONNECT. initiative built upon a broad, coordinated effort to increase consumer awareness of our individual and collective roles in cybersecurity. It brings together dozens of industry leaders and like-minded organizations that understand the importance of cybersecurity awareness and education.

“We live in a digital age where people, networks and devices are increasingly interconnected, and the more internet users who enable strong authentication, the safer we will all be online,” said Michael Kaiser, NCSA’s executive director.  “We are thankful to our ‘Lock Down Your Login’ sponsors and partner organizations for their support and commitment to our shared responsibility of promoting cybersecurity and helping to create a safer, more secure and trusted internet.”

About Consumer Action

Consumer Action has been a champion of underrepresented consumers nationwide since 1971. A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Consumer Action focuses on consumer education that empowers low- and moderate-income and limited-English-speaking consumers to financially prosper. It also advocates for consumers in the media and before lawmakers to advance consumer rights and promote industry-wide change.

By providing consumer education materials in multiple languages, a free national hotline, a comprehensive website (www.consumer-action.org) and annual surveys of financial and consumer services, Consumer Action helps consumers assert their rights in the marketplace and make financially savvy choices. Over 7,000 community and grassroots organizations benefit annually from its extensive outreach programs, training materials and support.

About the “Lock Down Your Login” Campaign

The “Lock Down Your Login” campaign, a key public-facing pillar of the multifaceted Cybersecurity National Action Plan (CNAP) announced by the White House in February 2016, is a STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ initiative led by the National Cyber Security Alliance and developed by a coalition of industry leaders and like-minded organizations working in collaboration with government, who understand the importance of cybersecurity awareness and education. The campaign was built upon a broad, coordinated effort to increase consumer awareness of our individual and collective roles in cybersecurity. The campaign’s sponsors include CompTIA, Google, Javelin Strategy & Research, Mastercard, mcgarrybowen, Mozilla Foundation, PayPal, TeleSign, True Key™ by Intel Security, Twitter Inc., Visa Inc. and. Wells Fargo & Company. Learn more about our partners and how to get involved at LockDownYourLogin.com.