Cookies. Cakes. Pies. Brownies. You can enjoy any of these treats whenever you feel a bit down. You know what the easiest and most satisfying dish to make is? Strong Cybersecurity! Let’s quickly review what you’ll need and what steps you’ll need to take to have a truly cyber-safe digital presence!
You will need:
- Computer, laptop, tablet, phone, or some other device that connects to the Internet
- 1x Continuous Training Program
- 1x Password Manager
- 1x Multi-Factor Authentication
- 1x Dark Web Monitoring Service
- 1x Virtual Private Network (VPN)
- 1x Spam Filter
- 1x Data Breach Strategy
Steps:
- Every week, take a quiz to keep your knowledge of the most recent cybersecurity tips up-to-date. For the same reason, take your Annual Cybersecurity Training.
- Make your passwords or passphrases lengthy, complex, and unique (NEVER repeat passwords or they will ruin your dish). Use a password manager if you don’t think you’ll be able to remember them all. Then you’ll only have to remember one master passphrase (make sure it’s a good one) and everything else will be handled automatically. Passwords may even be generated for you.
- Make sure all your accounts are set up for Multi-Factor Authentication. In order to access your accounts, hackers will have to provide another form of identification (normally clicking a button on one of your devices or using biometrics like a fingerprint).
- Keep an eye on your Dark Web Monitoring. Your password, username, or email may have been found on the dark web, which means cybercriminals might attempt to break into your accounts. Change them as soon as possible! The proper authorities should be contacted if you find an unchangeable (or harder to change) piece of personally identifiable information (PII) such as a phone number, address, or social security number.
- When in public or at all times, use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Using public wireless networks, cybercriminals try to hack into your devices and infect them with malware. By using a VPN on your devices, you can prevent this from happening.
