A Friendly Reminder About Email and Password Safety

Posted on February 19, 2026February 20, 2026 by Coy Norris

You may have seen recent news about a very large online data leak involving billions of email addresses and passwords gathered from older internet breaches.

While this does not mean your personal account has definitely been hacked, it is a good reminder to take a few simple steps to stay safe online — especially when it comes to email and passwords.

Your email account is important because it is often connected to things like:

• Online banking
• Medical portals
• Shopping accounts
• Social media
• Bills and services

Keeping your email protected helps keep everything else protected too.

Why This News Matters

Cybercriminals sometimes collect email addresses from past data breaches and use them to try scams like:

• Sending fake emails that look real
• Trying old passwords on different websites
• Pretending to be a trusted company
• Attempting to steal personal or financial information

These scams can happen to anyone, and they are becoming more common.

The good news is a few small actions can go a long way in reducing your risk.

Simple Steps to Protect Yourself

Use Strong Passwords (and Don’t Reuse Them)

• Many people use the same password in more than one place — but that can be risky.
• If one website is breached, criminals may try that same password elsewhere.

Tip: Try to use a different password for your email than you use for other accounts.

Make Passwords Longer, Not Harder

• A strong password doesn’t have to be complicated — just longer.
• A good password should:
  • Be at least 12 characters
  • Not include your name or birthday
  • Not include family members name or birthday
  • Be hard for someone to guess

Tip: A helpful idea is a passphrase, like a short sentence or group of words. Example: SunnyDayGardenChair!

Turn On Extra Login Protection (Multi-Factor Authentication)

Many email services offer an extra layer of protection called multi-factor authentication, or MFA.

This means that even if someone learns your password, they still cannot log in without a second step — like a code sent to your phone.

Tip: If your email provider offers this, it is one of the best safety tools available.

Be Careful with Unexpected Emails

Scam emails often try to create urgency.

Be cautious if an email says things like:

• “Your account will be locked!”
• “Click here immediately!”
• “Confirm your password now!”

A real company will never ask you to send your password through email.

Tip: When in doubt, don’t click. Instead, contact the company directly using a trusted phone number or website.

Watch for Common Warning Signs

A suspicious email may include:

• Poor spelling or grammar
• An unfamiliar sender
• Unexpected attachments
• Requests for money, gift cards or personal information

Tip: If something feels off, trust your instincts.

Change Your Password if You Haven’t in a While

If it has been a long time since you updated your password, now is a good time to do so — especially for important accounts like:

• Email
• Banking
• Online bill payments

HTC is Here to Help

Your safety is very important to us. We encourage all members to stay aware and take simple steps to protect themselves online. You do not need to feel alarmed — just informed and prepared.

Thank you for being a valued member and for taking steps to stay safe online.