October has flown by! National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) may soon be over, but these cybersecurity tips are evergreen. (As are the NCSAM lessons we passed on in weeks one, two and three.) Here are 10 more cybersecurity rules people should follow — but often don’t!
1. Sharing Is Caring. Unless It Is Oversharing.
Name of your dog, favorite band, favorite color — can the answers to common security questions be found on your social networks?
2. Know What Mobile Apps Are Safe to Download
Download mobile apps only from trustworthy sources. Always:
3. Don’t Be Indolent — Create a Login
Using your social media account or email to log in to the third-party sites? Know that if you log in to third-party site with a social account, your data can be shared between that social network and the third-party app.
4. Not Only Lights Should Be Off When Leaving the House
Turning off your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth may save you not only battery, but also a lot of trouble. Make this a habit:
5. Keep Your Money Safe
FICO reported that ATM compromises in the U.S. jumped sixfold in 2015. Fraudsters like to target places that are unattended, such as ATMs, gas stations, etc. Take precautions to decrease your risk of becoming the victim of credit card fraud and remember:
6. Encrypt Your Data
By encrypting, you are essentially converting data into a code to prevent unauthorized access. While encrypting an entire drive is safer, an average user should at least encrypt the files that are sensitive. Ask yourself following questions:
Plus a pro tip from @0DDJ0BB: “Encoding nor hashing is the same as encrypting. [It’s] important to understand the differences.”
7. Reusing Passwords Is a Big No-No
It’s hard to keep track of different passwords, but that’s what a password manager is for. You shouldn’t be reusing passwords, period. It’s especially true in this case:
8. Cloud Gets Hacked Too
Many people think that whatever they have stored in the cloud is automatically protected and can’t be seen by others. Not true: Cloud services get hacked, too. Uploading files into the cloud essentially equals storing them on someone’s computer. If you intend to store data in the cloud that should never hit the spotlight, make sure to do this first:
9. Recognize Phishing Emails
Phishing emails are becoming more sophisticated. Question all emails, even those that appear to be from people you know.
10. Remember Basic Password Hygiene
Heard of choosing passwords that inspire (i.e.,1t1sTim3toCa11M0M)? Neat reminder! Remember basic password hygiene:
A Final Thought on NCSAM Lessons
Are you oversharing on social media? Are you encrypting your sensitive files before uploading to the cloud? How about your significant others, friends and colleagues? You must take steps to answer all of these questions and remediate your behavior when appropriate.
While these tips may seem simple, it’s surprising how many people get scammed. Insiders carried out approximately 60 percent of all attacks in 2016 — in many cases inadvertently — through bad security habits or by falling prey to outside schemes such as phishing attempts.
If you enjoyed these NCSAM lessons, share this post with your community so your friends and co-workers can also stay safe online.
Illustrations by Nathan Salla
Product Marketing Manager, IBM Security