If you have checked in with us throughout October for National Cyber Security Awareness Month, you should feel much better armed to fend off all those cybercriminals out there.
For a refresher or in case you missed a few posts this month, let’s recap a few highlights of what we’ve learned so far:
- Take personal responsibility for your digital security
- Abstain from public wireless when you know you’re going to deal with sensitive information
- Create lengthy, random passwords for each of your accounts
- Use a password manager
- Use two-factor authentication
- Avoid storing sensitive information in the cloud
Staying safe in the cyber landscape requires more than just being careful with passwords, public wireless and the cloud. We need to properly maintain our personal computer and all of our digital devices with a mind toward cyber security.
The national Stop. Think. Connect. campaign offers the following advice for avoiding malware:
- Keep a clean machine by making sure your security software, operating system and Web browser are up to date.
- When in doubt throw it out. Don’t click on any links or open attachments unless you trust the source.
- Set your browser security high enough to detect unauthorized downloads.
- Use a pop-up blocker (the links in pop-up ads are notorious sources of malware).
- Back up your data regularly (just in case your computer crashes).
- Protect all devices that connect to the Internet. Along with computers, smart phones, gaming systems and other Web-enabled devices also need protection from malware.
- Make sure all members of your family follow these safety tips (one infected computer on a home network can infect other computers).
To learn what else you can do to protect yourself in the cyber landscape, read more at http://www.staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/protect-your-personal-information/id-theft-and-fraud#sthash.noTajowc.dpuf