2021 Cybersecurity Awareness Month – Get Familiar with the Cyber Basics

October is the start of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a collaborative effort in the industry to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and to ensure that all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online. At a time when we are more connected than ever, being “cyber smart” is of the utmost importance.

This year has already seen more than a fair share of attacks and breaches, including the SolarWinds and Kaseya breaches as well as high-profile attacks on the Colonial Pipeline and other critical infrastructure. Furthermore, as shown by these recent breaches, cyber-attacks are becoming more sophisticated with more evolved bad actors cropping up each day. Luckily, there are several steps that we can take on a daily basis to mitigate risks and stay one step ahead of malefactors.

Here are a few quick tips provided by the National Cybersecurity Alliance:

Enable MFA

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds that necessary second check to verify your identity when logging in to one of your accounts. By requiring multiple methods of authentication, your account is further protected from being compromised, even if a bad actor accesses your password. In this way, MFAs make it more difficult for attackers to break into accounts.

Use strong Passphrases/Password Manager

This may seem obvious, but all too often securing strong passphrases/password managers is overlooked. People spending more time online during the pandemic has certainly contributed to more bad actors prowling for accounts to attack. Using long, complex and unique passwords is a good way to stop your account from being hacked. An easy way of keeping track and remembering your passwords is using a password manager.

Perform Software Updates

When a device prompts that it’s time to update the software, it may be tempting to simply click postpone and ignore the message. However, having the latest security software, web browser and operating system on devices is one of the best defenses against online threats. So, don’t wait – update!

Do Your Research

Common sense is a crucial part of maintaining good online posture, and an important step to staying safe online is to do some research before downloading anything new to your device, such as apps. Before downloading any new learning app on your device, make sure to check who created the app, what the user reviews say, and if there are any articles published online about the app’s privacy and security features.

Check Your Settings

Be diligent to double check your privacy and security settings and be aware who can access your documents. This extends to Google docs, Zoom calls and beyond. For meetings on Zoom, for example, create passwords so only those invited to the session can attend and restrict who can share their screen or files with the rest of the attendees.

Being cyber smart and maintaining stellar online posture is the best way to protect yourself and others from cyber-attacks. No single tip is foolproof, but these steps taken together can make a real difference for taking control of your online presence. Following these tips is also easy and free. By taking preventive measures and making a habit of practicing online safety, you can decrease your odds of being hacked exponentially – and prevent lost time and money, as well as annoyance.

For more information on how to stay cyber safe you can visit staysafeonline.org.