Cybersecurity basics everyone should know — a DFW infosec professional's guide

I work in cybersecurity at a DFW financial services company. Here are the things I wish every person knew.

The big three that prevent 90% of attacks:

1. Use a password manager. Bitwarden (free) or 1Password ($3/month). Every account gets a unique, random password. If one site gets breached, nothing else is compromised.

• Source: According to Verizon's 2025 Data Breach Report, 80%+ of breaches involve compromised credentials.

1. Enable two-factor authentication on everything. Use an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy), NOT SMS. SIM swapping is trivial for attackers.

• SMS 2FA is better than nothing but app-based 2FA is dramatically more secure.

1. Do not click links in emails or texts. If your bank "needs you to verify something," go to the bank's website directly. Type the URL yourself.

• Phishing accounts for 36% of all data breaches. Source: Verizon DBIR 2025.

DFW-specific threats:

• Oncor/ERCOT phishing — Fake emails about your power bill. They look incredibly convincing. Oncor will never ask for payment via email link.
• Toll road scams — Fake NTTA emails claiming unpaid tolls. Go to ntta.org directly to check your account.
• DFW employment scams — Fake remote job offers from "DFW companies" asking you to deposit checks and wire money. It is always a scam.

Quick security audit (do this today):

1. Go to haveibeenpwned.com — Check if your email was in a data breach
2. If yes (it probably is), change those passwords immediately
3. Install Bitwarden and start migrating passwords
4. Enable 2FA on email, banking, and social media accounts
5. Check your phone for apps you do not recognize

Sources:

• Verizon 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework
• haveibeenpwned.com
• Personal professional experience in DFW infosec