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A useful cyberattack preparedness plan assumes that electricity, internet access, banking apps, card payments or one of your own devices could fail at the same time. Build it in four layers: harden accounts and devices, keep several days of physical supplies, preserve financial and identity records, and rehearse a written response with fallback communications. That combination lets you stay safe, prove what you own, pay for essentials and recover without depending on one device, account or network.
The plan below combines consumer guidance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), CISA/FEMA, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Indiana Department of Homeland Security and FEMA/CISA planning guidance. It does not assume a particular outage length; official household guidance does not publish a universal cyberattack frequency or duration.
What this plan is designed to withstand
A cyber incident can create an outage without looking like a conventional disaster. A utility control system, bank, payment processor, internet service provider or your own computer may be unavailable. A power failure can also disable your modem, Wi-Fi router, phone charger and electronic records, while a compromised device can make normal banking unsafe even when the network is working.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesPrepare for four overlapping conditions:
- No mains electricity: lighting, refrigeration, charging and medical equipment become immediate concerns.
- No internet or cellular data: websites, banking apps, cloud files and online authentication may be unreachable.
- No electronic payments: card terminals, ATMs or payment processors may be offline, so a small cash reserve matters.
- A potentially compromised computer or phone: entering credentials could expose your bank, email and other accounts.
The objective is continuity, not trying to operate normally. You need enough information, power, communication and payment capacity to make safe decisions until services return or you can relocate.
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Layer 1: Harden accounts and devices before an incident
Make an account inventory
List every account whose loss would affect money, identity, communication or recovery: primary email, banks and cards, utilities, insurance, mobile service, government services and medical portals. Record the official fraud and outage phone numbers, the recovery email or phone for each service, and which device normally holds its authenticator. Keep this inventory in a protected paper copy and an encrypted or password-protected electronic copy.
Use unique passwords and multifactor authentication
Use a long, unique password for every important account; never reuse your banking password for email or shopping. Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA) wherever it is offered. Prefer an authenticator app or security key when practical, and store the service’s recovery codes in the same protected records system as your other emergency documents. Test a sign-in and recovery method while you still have power and connectivity, rather than discovering during an outage that the only second factor is on a lost phone.
Secure home Wi-Fi and connected equipment
Change the router’s administrator password from the factory default, use the strongest current Wi-Fi security mode the router supports, and install firmware updates. Remove devices you no longer use. Separate visitors and untrusted smart-home equipment from computers that hold financial records when your router supports guest or network-segmentation features. Write down the router model, internet-provider support number and the location of its power adapter so another household member can restore it safely.
Turn on automatic updates
Enable automatic updates for operating systems, browsers, phones, routers and security software. Updates close vulnerabilities that attackers commonly exploit. Keep at least one device capable of receiving security alerts, but do not assume an alert proves a message is genuine; verify through the service’s known website or phone number.
Practice phishing recognition
Unexpected requests for a password, one-time code, payment, gift card or urgent transfer are warning signs. Do not open attachments or follow links merely because a message appears to come from a bank, utility or government agency. Navigate using a bookmark you created previously or call the number printed on a statement or card. Tell family members that an attacker may impersonate another household member during an outage, when urgency is high and normal verification is difficult.
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Back up information you would need to recover
Back up identity documents, account statements, insurance policies, medical information, contact lists and irreplaceable personal files. Keep one copy available without internet access and another secure copy off-site. Password-protected removable media or secure off-site storage are options identified in FDIC consumer disaster guidance. Test that a backup can actually be opened; a backup that cannot be restored is not a recovery plan.
Layer 2: Keep several days of practical supplies
CISA/FEMA’s individual-preparedness guidance calls for one gallon of water per person per day for several days, along with nonperishable food, flashlights and batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA radio, phone chargers and backup batteries, cash, paper supplies and important family documents. Indiana DHS also advises charging devices before an expected outage and planning for medical electrical needs.
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| Item | Failure it covers | Grid or internet dependence | How to test it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stored water | Loss of pumping or treatment | None after storage | Check containers and rotation dates |
| Nonperishable food | Closed stores, refrigeration loss | None until preparation requires power | Use and replace items before expiration |
| Flashlights and spare batteries | Dark rooms and unsafe movement | None | Turn on each light and inspect contacts |
| Battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA radio | Loss of internet and one-way emergency information | Battery or hand-crank operation; broadcast availability varies by location | Tune to a local weather broadcast and test the crank or batteries |
| Phone chargers and backup batteries | Short phone runtime and loss of MFA access | Stored energy; wall charging still needs power | Charge the battery, then recharge a phone from it |
| Modest cash reserve | Offline card terminals and unavailable ATMs | None | Check denominations and store securely |
| Paper records and waterproof/fire-resistant container | Unavailable cloud files or damaged originals | None for the paper copy | Review contact numbers and expiration dates |
| Surge protection | Voltage spikes when electricity returns | Requires a functioning outlet | Inspect the device and replace it after a damaging surge |
These tools are complementary. A power bank extends phone runtime but cannot provide emergency broadcasts; a hand-crank radio receives alerts but cannot authenticate a bank account; offline records support recovery but do not replace cash; and a surge protector addresses restoration spikes rather than a prolonged blackout.
Account for medical and refrigerated needs
Ask medical-device and refrigerated-medicine providers how long equipment or medication can safely operate without mains power. Arrange an approved backup-power method before an outage, and identify a place to relocate if that method fails. Never improvise a power connection for life-support equipment.
Layer 3: Preserve financial continuity
Keep more than one way to reach your bank
Save the bank’s customer-service, fraud and outage numbers on paper and in your phone. Know the bank’s official website address and how to reach it without a search-engine result. If your bank supports more than one authentication method, enroll a second trusted device or method before an incident. Do not rely on one banking app, one phone or one cellular carrier.
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Arrange income and essential payments
FDIC consumer guidance recommends direct deposit and using online or mobile banking while services are available. Review recurring payments, due dates and overdraft settings. Keep a current list of utilities, insurers, landlords, lenders and medical providers, including their offline contact methods. If a payment cannot be confirmed during an outage, do not repeatedly submit it; record the attempted date and contact the provider when service returns to avoid duplicate payments.
Maintain protected financial records
Keep current account numbers, recent statements, insurance policies, identification details, medical information and ownership records in a waterproof, fire-resistant container. Store a secure off-site electronic copy. FDIC notes that access to personal, financial, insurance, medical and other records is crucial for starting recovery quickly and efficiently. Limit the paper copy to information needed for identification, claims and contacting institutions; do not leave unrestricted passwords beside account numbers.
Use cash deliberately
Keep a modest emergency cash reserve in a secure location. The amount depends on your household’s essential expenses and local payment habits; official guidance does not set a universal dollar figure. Use cash for necessities when electronic payments are unavailable, and record each withdrawal so you can reconcile accounts later.
Layer 4: Write and rehearse a response sequence
Assign roles and contacts
Write the names and phone numbers for household members, an out-of-area contact, your bank’s fraud and outage teams, insurers, utilities, medical providers and local emergency-alert services. Assign one person to monitor official alerts, another to track money and supplies, and another to check on dependents or neighbors when appropriate. FEMA/CISA planning guidance emphasizes defined roles, communications and activation of related plans such as a power-outage plan.
Set decision triggers
Agree in advance when to disconnect a device, switch to cash, leave for a location with power and connectivity, or seek professional help. Examples include a suspected malware infection, a medical device approaching its safe battery limit, unsafe indoor temperature, or an outage that exceeds your household’s stored supplies. Written triggers prevent arguments and impulsive decisions when information is incomplete.
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Rehearse without creating a hazard
- Conduct a short tabletop exercise: announce that power, internet and card payments are unavailable.
- Find the paper contact list, cash, radio, flashlights, water and account records without opening a cloud app.
- Demonstrate how to charge a phone from the backup battery and how to report a suspected account takeover.
- Check that every adult knows the generator location, if one exists, and the outdoor-only operating rule.
- Update the plan after household changes, new medical equipment, a move or a replacement bank card.
Power-outage safety during the event
Use generators only in a safe location
Indiana DHS states: “Only use a generator outside and at least 20 feet away from windows, doors or vents.” Never operate one indoors, in a garage, under an attached carport or near an opening where exhaust can enter. Keep the generator dry, follow its manufacturer instructions and use only the approved connection method. Arrange medical backup power with the equipment provider rather than improvising wiring.
Protect food and electronics
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to preserve cold air. Before power is restored, unplug sensitive electronics or switch them off; restoration can produce a surge. Use a properly rated surge protector for equipment that must remain connected. When electricity returns, reconnect devices gradually and check for unusual heat, smell or damage.
Prioritize communication and health
Reserve phone battery for emergency calls, alerts and authentication. Use the NOAA radio for one-way updates so the phone can remain available. If indoor conditions become unsafe, medical equipment cannot be powered, or a household member is in danger, relocate to a prepared site or contact emergency services.
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Determine whether the problem is local
Check the modem, router and device power, then consult the radio or an official outage channel. Do not factory-reset a router or delete an authenticator app during an incident unless you have the recovery information. A local equipment failure requires a different response from a regional service outage.
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Switch to offline records and cash
Use the paper contact list and records container to identify due payments, policies and account numbers. Pay only for essentials that can be verified. Keep receipts and a written transaction log until online statements are available. Never photograph or upload sensitive documents to an untrusted network simply because a service is unavailable.
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Communicate through an agreed fallback
Use voice calls, text messages, the NOAA radio for public alerts, or an out-of-area contact according to your plan. Keep messages short and include your location, safety status and next check-in time. Avoid broadcasting account numbers, passwords or one-time codes.
If a computer or phone may be compromised
Treat a suspected infection as a security emergency even if power and internet still work. The FTC’s instruction is direct: “Stop shopping, banking, and entering passwords online until your computer is cleaned and restored.”
- Disconnect the affected device from Wi-Fi and wired networks, unless a qualified responder needs a connection for a specific cleanup step.
- Use a different, trusted device to contact your bank’s fraud team and monitor accounts.
- Update security software, run the provider’s recommended cleanup process and restore the device safely from a known-good backup.
- After restoration, change the bank, email and other important-account passwords from the trusted device; do not reuse old passwords.
- Enable automatic updates and MFA again, then review account activity for unauthorized changes.
- Report identity misuse through IdentityTheft.gov, which provides a personalized recovery plan.
Do not treat a factory reset or antivirus scan as proof that every account is safe. Account recovery, password changes and fraud monitoring are separate tasks.
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Review the plan whenever a phone, router, bank, insurer, medication or household member changes. Charge backup batteries before forecast severe weather, replace expired food and batteries, verify that contact numbers still work, and open a backup copy of your records. Keep the paper plan where every adult can find it but visitors cannot casually access it.
Official preparedness guidance provides supplies and safety controls, not a promise that a household can remain self-sufficient indefinitely. Your written triggers should therefore include relocation, professional technical help, medical assistance and emergency services. The strongest plan is one you can execute without internet access, with clear limits on when to stop troubleshooting and get help.
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