Get Smart During Cybersecurity Month: 5 Tips to Stay Safe

By:  Jojo Rita

In our digital world, cybersecurity threats have exploded as we rely more and more on our digital devices and networks to store our sensitive information. According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), phishing and other predatory online tactics represent a serious danger to all of our data and security. CISA found in a recent study that 8 out of 10 organizations have had at least one individual who has fallen victim to phishing attempts by their team, proving that we are all susceptible to such attacks.[1] In celebration of this year’s Cybersecurity Month, let’s take a look at some practical steps organizations, employers, and employees should take to protect themselves from cybersecurity attacks.

1. Establish 2-Factor Authentication! While it may seem an inconvenience, this measure is the gold standard for protecting your most vulnerable accounts, like email accounts, online banking, and subscription services. Always have your phone, or a secondary email account, available and accessible should you need to access your accounts from a new device.
2. Look out for phishing and scams! When receiving email, texts, and calls, even from apparently trustworthy sources, always proceed with caution. Do not fall for common phishing scare-tactics (think an email reading, “ALERT: Your Wells Fargo account has been compromised.”) Also, even when opening email attachments from “trusted” sources, review the sender, the content of the email, and the type of attachment before clicking or opening any links. When in doubt, delete suspicious messages. Never provide your sign-in info or other sensitive information via email, phone, or text message.
3. Avoid public WiFi networks! Only use public networks when absolutely necessary, and never use them to access banking accounts or other confidential information. Instead, you can use cellular data, or your trusted private networks, to ensure your information cannot be easily accessed by bad actors via public networks.
4. Encrypt your sensitive documents! Tax documents, confidential employment paperwork, and Social Security information should all be securely stored and encrypted, especially if they will be stored on a computer hard drive. If stored on the cloud, make sure you have 2 factor authentication set up.
5. Create strong passwords! While it may seem like a no brainer, a strong password (one unique to each account) is the first line of defense against roving cyberattacks. Consider passwords that will be memorable to you, while also difficult to guess. Using unusual symbols, number sequences, and capital letters build a strong defensive wall against would-be hackers.

[1] https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-02/phishing-infographic-508c.pdf