Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2024
Falling leaves, pumpkin spice, chilly nights… October is here. While you’re cleaning the leaves from your yard–you should also clean up your cybersecurity habits. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a perfect reminder to stay on top of your online safety.
With cyber threats always looming, taking a few simple steps can greatly reduce your risk of falling victim to an attack.
Use Strong Passwords
One of the easiest ways to protect yourself is by using strong passwords. It’s tempting to reuse the same password across multiple accounts, but that’s a big mistake. If one account gets hacked, the others could quickly follow. Instead, create long, unique passwords for each account.
While this might seem like an annoying hassle, a password manager can help by securely storing and generating passwords. KeePass, Bitwarden, and MyGlue are three great examples of password managers. Now you don’t have to remember them all!
Enable Multifactor Authentication For Cybersecurity Awareness Month
In addition to strong passwords, turning on multifactor authentication (MFA) adds another layer of security. MFA requires not just your password but also a second form of verification, like a code sent to your phone. This makes it much harder for cybercriminals to access your accounts, even if they get your password. Enabling MFA can often be found under your account settings.
Beware of Phishing
Another major threat is phishing—when scammers try to trick you into giving up personal information. Phishing messages often look urgent or come from unfamiliar sources that look legitimate. Always be cautious before clicking links or downloading attachments. If something feels suspicious, it’s better to report it than risk a breach.
Learning How to Recognize Threats
Finally, staying up to date through security awareness training is so important. Learning how to recognize threats and follow best practices keeps you prepared. Whether you’re protecting personal information or sensitive work data, being aware and informed is your best defense.
Sadly, the most common cause of a data breach is an employee mistake. You certainly don’t want to be the person explaining to the boss why bad guys are asking for a $1.5 million ransomware payment.
Staying Cyber-Aware during Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Please don’t mistake the size of your business as a safety measure. Cybercriminals are targeting everyone. Your Netflix password was hacked–could it be the same password you use for work? Now the bad guys have access to your sensitive business data.
By using strong passwords, enabling MFA, staying alert for phishing attempts, and committing to ongoing security awareness, you’ll help to boost your cybersecurity habits.
Following these simple steps can help to keep you, your family, and business or place of work secure!
