Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2024

As we navigate an increasingly interconnected world, safeguarding our digital assets has become more crucial than ever. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global initiative dedicated to promoting online safety and security. This year, the theme is “Secure Our World,” emphasizing the collective responsibility to protect ourselves and our communities from cyber threats.

Why is Cybersecurity Awareness Month important?

• Rising Cyber Threats: The frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks continue to grow. The risks are real and can have severe consequences – from phishing scams to ransomware attacks.
• Protecting Personal and Business Data: Our digital lives are filled with sensitive information, including financial details, medical records, and personal identities. Safeguarding this data is essential.
• Building a Safer Online Community: By raising awareness and adopting best practices, we can create a safer and more secure online environment for everyone.

How can you stay safe online?

1. Create Stronger Passwords

Passwords are the digital keys to your cyber-house and are critical to protecting your online security. The truth is passwords are your first line of defense against cyberattacks.

When creating passwords, it’s key to keep these three tips in mind:

• Make them long: Each password should be about 12 characters long.
• Make them unique: Never reuse passwords, nor should they look alike.
• Make them complex: You should use a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters.

If your password is long, unique and complex you won’t need to change it, unless you are notified that an unauthorized person has accessed it, or your password was compromised in a data breach.

2. Enable Multi-layer Authentication (MFA)

Also known as two-factor authentication, MFA is a security measure that has become more common amongst businesses. When initiated, MFA will prompt a user to utilize two security features that can prove their identity. This feature can make it twice as hard for cybercriminals to access sensitive data.

MFA can include:

• A biometric identifier like a fingerprint or facial recognition.
• An extra pin that is prompted for entry after a password.
• A security question set up by the user.
• A code that is either texted or emailed to the user.

When in doubt, if available, use MFA everywhere to secure your network.

3. Be Careful What You Click On

Hackers use scams like phishing attacks to send bad links via emails to try and extract sensitive data from unsuspecting individuals. A phishing scam can even install malware on computer systems. When in doubt, if it looks “phishy,” don’t click on it.

4. Update Your Software

Always keep your software up to date when updates are available. These updates can generally provide general fixes and new patches to protect your business against cybercriminals. If you have the chance to automate your updates, don’t hesitate to do so. By updating your software, you can ensure that you are one step ahead of hackers.