October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
The month of October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This awareness day was started by the National Cyber Security Division of the Homeland Security Department.
To many individuals and businesses, concern about protecting your digital assets, passwords, etc. has become a huge part of your day-to-day processes. Cyber-Crime continues to grow. There are criminals out there that specialize in trying to trick you into sharing personal information via phishing schemes, installing malware on your computer, and so much more.
If you are a victim of cyber-crimes, you could have your bank account drained, have your identity stolen, or even have your business servers taken over and the information in them held for a ransom. So now more than ever it is important that you follow good online and digital precautions in securing the avenues in which cyber-crimes could take place.
Some things that can help protect you!
- Make sure to use the security programs available to you in your email system to help spot “Scam/Junk” emails.
- Be aware of emails that contain miss-spelled words, poor grammar, scare tactics, requests to click on links, download files, or are overly generic. These type of things can be indicators of a scam or malicious emails.
- Use common sense when you are thinking about “clicking” on a link thru your email. Make sure that you know the individual that sent it to you and remember that if they were hacked, that it may be someone pretending to be an “email friend/partner”. It is suggested you verify by calling whom-ever sent the email before clicking on the link or opening a file.
- Utilize a valid security system software on all your computers and digital devices to include your phone.
- Make sure to use strong/complex passwords for your email and online accounts, and make sure to change your password regularly.
- Make sure the software you use on your digital devices is updated and current. Software systems regularly do updates to their software to help patch things such as vulnerabilities, and flaws in which a cyber criminal may try to take advantage.
- Keep track of your social media and don’t share access to your social media with anyone other than a trusted source.
- Have good conversations with your employees, co-workers, and of course your family to make sure that all parties understand the severity of what can happen if you are hacked, or had malicious software or malware installed on your systems.
Be Safe, Be Smart, and Always Be Aware
Cyber criminals are tricky and are always trying to figure out new ways to bring digital harm to you, your family, or your business. Follow some of these basic steps to help make it harder for a cyber criminal to take advantage of you.
Simple Website Creations encourages you to check out the Cybesecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency Resources page at https://www.cisa.gov/cisa-cybersecurity-resources to learn more about how to protect yourself.
