Warmer weather means travel, outdoor plans, and a little more time away from home — but it also means a little more opportunity for identity thieves. Whether you're heading out of town for work or fun, a few simple habits can go a long way toward keeping your personal information safe. Here are our team's top tips for protecting yourself this summer.
Secure Your Devices
HUD Proposes Cyber Incident Reporting Requirement Within 36 Hours
HUD has issued Notice PIH 2026-17, outlining new reporting requirements for Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) that experience cybersecurity incidents.
Once in effect, if a Housing Authority becomes aware of a cyber incident, it must notify HUD's Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) at CIRT@hud.gov and its local field office point of contact within 36 hours of becoming aware of the incident.
Digital threats are ever-changing:
Recent cyber threats highlight just how critical it is for users and organizations to remain vigilant online. Attackers are increasingly relying on sophisticated deception techniques rather than obvious red flags. For example, one attack leveraged a fake website, google-prism.com that closely mimicked Google’s design to establish trust. Users were prompted to grant normal browser permissions and install what appeared to be a legitimate security extension which actually gave attackers access to sensitive data.
Credential theft is still the easiest way into a corporate network—and attackers know it.
Despite years of warnings and proven defenses, many organizations continue to rely on passwords alone. The result is a growing wave of breaches that didn’t require sophisticated exploits—just a stolen username and password.
Most organizations do not think about their technology until something goes wrong—a system crashes, files disappear, or the network slows down. Just like a vehicle needs routine maintenance, IT systems need regular checkups to stay secure and reliable. For public housing authorities that handle sensitive data and support daily operations, regular technology audits are essential.
Data is one of the most important assets public housing authorities manage. From resident information to financial and operational data, protecting that information is critical to keeping daily operations running and maintaining trust. One of the most effective ways to protect data is by using both on‑site and off‑site backups. Each serves a different purpose, and together they provide complete protection.
Software is the set of programs and apps that make your computer work, such as email, internet browsers, and office programs. Just like cars need regular maintenance, software needs regular updates to keep working safely and properly. Updating software helps protect your computer, your information, and your ability to get work done.
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a useful tool in public service agencies, including housing authorities. Whether staff members are working in property management, Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) administration, inspections, resident services, or back‑office functions, AI can streamline many routine tasks. But because housing authorities work with sensitive resident information and operate in a heavily regulated environment, it’s essential to use AI responsibly.
The recent cyberattack on medical‑tech giant Stryker is a wake‑up call for every public agency in the U.S.—including housing authorities. The attack wasn’t just another ransomware scare. It was a destructive, politically motivated Iranian‑linked operation that wiped data, disabled systems, and—most importantly—spread through employees’ devices, including their personal phones.
For housing authorities, the lesson is simple:
When you work in environments that manage sensitive information—like housing authorities—cybersecurity isn't optional. One of the most common but overlooked risks we see at Ultimate IT Guys is the habit of storing passwords directly in a web browser. Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and others make it incredibly convenient to “save” your login information and autofill it later. But that convenience comes with serious security drawbacks.
