OCTOBER IS CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH
October 03, 2022 01:00 PM
When we think of cybersecurity, we think of big companies and big cyberattacks. Cyber-attacks are something that may affect someone else, but scammers don’t even know about me. However, hackers and scammers don’t need to know much to put you at risk.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to “See Yourself in Cyber.” No matter what your role is, you can greatly increase your cybersecurity online, at home, and at work by taking a few simple steps to protect your online information and privacy. Having a password used to be enough, but now we need more.
Not only do your passwords need to be strong, but you also shouldn’t reuse passwords and shouldn’t use the same password. Creating a strong and unique password is an easy way to improve your cyber security. Always include one uppercase letter, one lowercase, at least one number, and 11 or more characters.
Multi-Factor Authentication
You may have heard Multi-Factor Authentication or Two Factor Authentication; they both mean the same thing. It is taking an extra step when trusted websites and applications ask you to confirm you’re really who you say you are. This second step can Be Annoying, But It Works! Your bank, social media, school, and workplace all want to make sure you’re the one accessing your information. It is not just your password; they will verify it’s you by:
- They’ll ask for something you know, like a PIN number or your mother’s maiden name, along with
- Something you have, like an authentication application or confirmation text on your phone, or
- Something you are, like a fingerprint or face ID.
To learn more about Multi-Factor Authentication and get more resources, visit here.
Don’t delay! When your computer or device reminds you to update software, make it a best practice to update immediately.
- Update the operating system on your mobile phones, tablets, and laptops.
- Update your applications, especially the web browsers on all devices too.
- Turn on automatic updates for all devices, applications, and operating systems.
To learn more basics of cybersecurity, visit here.