Bonner County technology director urges residents to use multifactor authentication, password managers after local data compromises

Jacob Storms, Bonner County technology director, told a Friday night meeting that residents and small businesses should adopt basic cyber-hygiene measures — including multifactor authentication, stronger passwords and regular backups — after citing recent local incidents that exposed personal and organizational data.

Storms opened by noting a recent compromise involving the Lake Pend Oreille School District and earlier ransomware activity that affected Schweitzer Mountain, and he warned that those incidents show how quickly cyberattacks can disrupt services and expose customer information. "Cybersecurity in itself is essential for safeguarding your friends, family, and community," he said.

Storms said common threats include phishing, malware and ransomware, and he described simple, verifiable steps people can take. He recommended using multifactor…