October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and with that, I’ve included a few refresher tips to help keep us all secure because the bad guys never stop and never seem to sleep. Let’s all remain vigilant.
• Social media apps: How much information do you share every day with people on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat)? Limit the amount of personal information you share online and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely.
• Software updates: Update the security software, operating system, and web browser on all your devices, including laptops, phones, and tablets. Updating the software will prevent attackers from taking advantage of known vulnerabilities.
• Email: Links in email and online posts, as well as attachments, are used by criminals to compromise your computer. If it looks suspicious, even if you know the person or source, delete it; don’t click on it. Call the person to verify if they really meant to send it.
• Passwords: Everywhere you go online wants you to set up a username and password. Keeping track of them can be daunting, especially since every account must use a unique password that you do not re-use anywhere else. Each password should also be complex, with a combination of numbers, symbols, and letters. Change your passwords regularly, especially if you believe they have been compromised. If this seems overwhelming, check out a password manager like LastPass to help make your passwords more secure.
• Authentication: Strong authentication goes beyond a complex password to verify that a user has authorized access. For example, multi-factor authentication can send a one-time code texted to a mobile device or an authentication app. Oftentimes this is called two-factor authentication. If a website offers multi-factor or two-factor authentication, please enroll in it and use it. It’s one more step to keeping your information secure.
