October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, and the theme for #CyberMonth2023 is “Step Up Your Cyber Fitness”. Just like starting a new fitness routine, finding the motivation to become your best, most cyber safe self can be tough. But having the right coach (like your friends at SLG!) can make improving your cyber fitness a lot easier. It’s all about stretching your cyber security muscles and taking things one step at a time.
In today’s digital landscape, it’s crucial to stay vigilant against common cyber threats. Here are some powerful tools and practices you can implement to ensure your online safety
The warmup
Whether you’re just starting your journey, or you have experience with it, assessing your risk factors can help you find opportunities to make cyber security health gains. Whether it’s checking the privacy settings on our social media sites, reusing passwords, or not updating our devices, we all have opportunities to make our online identities so much safer. Take stock so you can take action!
Account workout
Just like a balanced workout, having strong and unique passwords is essential. Create unique passwords for every one of your accounts that are at least 12 characters long and include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. And remember, using a password manager can make this task a breeze! You should also consider enabling multi-factor authentication wherever it’s available for added security. Even if your password gets compromised, hackers won’t be able to access your accounts without the second authentication factor.
Building your immune system
Strengthen your cyber muscles by installing reliable antivirus software. It acts as your immune system against malware and other malicious threats. Additionally, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your internet connection and protect your data from prying eyes when browsing online.
Strength in numbers
Just like encouraging your workout buddies, it’s important to spread the word about cyber safety. Talk to older adults and kids about the importance of staying safe online by sharing tips on avoiding phishing scams, protecting personal information, and being cautious while interacting with strangers online.
Remember, building cyber fitness is a journey, not a sprint. Take it one step at a time and celebrate each milestone along the way and you’ll be amazed at how much stronger and more secure you can become.
Stay cyber-safe and have a fantastic Cyber Security Awareness Month!