October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the perfect time to improve our cyber practices. Here are five simple ways you can stay cyber-safe, at home or the office.
USE STRONG PASSWORDS. Did you know the most common password of 2023 is 123456? Using simple, predictable passwords like this is never a good idea. The strongest passwords meet the following criteria: 12-15 characters, including numbers, special characters, and lowercase and uppercase letters. If you struggle with remembering passwords, try using a password manager or password phrases that are easy to remember.
ENABLE MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION ACROSS ALL ACCOUNTS AND DEVICES. Multifactor authentication provides an extra layer of protection for your peace of mind. It decreases the likelihood of a breach by adding an additional form of authentication. In the event your password is hacked or stolen, the bad actor still has a hurdle to overcome to access your data.
RECOGNIZE AND REPORT PHISHING. You’ve likely received an email with urgent language and grammatical errors saying you need to update your payment information or make a payment immediately. Attempts like these are typically phishing scams, and legitimate businesses will not email or text with a link to update your payment information. If you receive an email with offers that seem too good to be true, urgent requests from unknown senders (or known senders but the message seems off), avoid it and never click links or download attachments from suspicious emails.
STAY PROTECTED WHILE CONNECTED. Whatever the network device, the best defense against viruses and malware is by updating to the latest security software, web browsers, and operating systems. If possible, sign up for automatic updates and protect your devices with antivirus software. Another way to stay safe while connected to outside networks is to use a virtual private network or VPN.
SECURE YOUR NETWORK AGAINST CYBER THREATS. The average household in the U.S. now has 22 internet-connected devices. Computers, smartphones, TVs, thermostats, doorbells––the list is ever-growing! Keep your home network safe from cyber threats by securing your modem, router, and Wi-Fi.
No single tip is foolproof on it’s own, but together, they can make a real difference in taking control of your online presence. Taking preventive measures and practicing good cyber hygiene will decrease your odds of being hacked exponentially and prevent lost time, money, and annoyance.
