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November 7, 2021As we wrap up the final week of Cyber Security Awareness Month we wanted to share our top 5 takeaways from all the information the Cyber Information & Security Agency (CISA) provided throughout October.
Top 5 Cybersecurity Tips
- Keep passwords strong and secure. Having a standard for keeping passwords secure is a must. Never choose words or phrases that are obvious or easy to learn, like birthdays or your name. Always include as much complexity as you can by adding special characters or numbers. Change your passwords frequently and always store them in a secure place. If you are writing them down, make sure the document is securely stored. Some people may find use in password storage services like LastPass. These services can help keep up with things when you feel overwhelmed by so many passwords to remember.
- Recognize phishing, spoofing, and other scams. The email that came through your inbox might look like it came from your co-worker, but the scammers can very tricky, so you should always be cautious. If anything in the message seems a little off, investigate it further. Never click any links until you have confirmed the sender. Scams are also popular with people using common services, so you receive an email or SMS that appears to be from your credit card company or utility service. If you receive a message that you were not expecting, or didn’t sign up for, take the safer route and call the company/service or person directly.
- Keep your desktop computer and other devices updated and healthy. Apps, security, and system updates are critical. Once threats are identified, system and security updates are the first line of defense in eradicating the threat. Many operating systems and virus protection products will update in the background, but they can require a reboot to complete. Rebooting your computers and devices every day can help keep your systems healthy.
- Keep your devices locked when not in use. Today we use our devices for everything, including paying bills, banking, and shopping. There is a lot of sensitive data on our devices, and we get comfortable with letting our passwords be “remembered” by the device. Set up auto-locking on your phones and tablets to protect your data if your device is lost or stolen.
- Maintain backups of all your devices. If you approach your cyber security with a “when”, and not and not an “if” attitude, then you’ll be better prepared for recovery. With a world full of “smart” devices there are many opportunities for a security breach. The smartest thing you can do is make sure you have a solid, consistent backup routine in place.
We hope that we have been able to provide informative information during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. And, we hope you come away with an understanding that the safer you are as an individual, the safer we all are as a cyber community. Please, download the Cybersecurity 101 tip sheet provided by CISA. You can print and share it with staff and co-workers to help ensure we all stay safer together.
