Our world has never been more connected in terms of technology and the number of new digital technologies is expected to increase over time – which is why the cyber security (and smart cyber behavior) matters.
October marks the start of European Cyber Security Month on the "Old Continent" and US National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. And while the information campaign can only last a month, we must remember that cybersecurity must be our concern all year round.
Awareness and awareness campaigns like this help people cultivate the right cybersecurity habits to protect their valuable data and become more responsible online citizens.
Εξάλλου, η κυβερνοασφάλεια είναι συλλογική ευθύνη, και με την υιοθέτηση κατάλληλων πρακτικών κυβερνο-υγιεινής, τόσο στην εργασία όσο και στην προσωπική μας ζωή, διασφαλίζουμε ότι οι κυβερνοεγκληματίες έχουν λιγότερα points εισόδου στις συσκευές, περιορίζοντας έτσι το τοπίο των απειλών.
That's why we should not underestimate cyber security
If you are a skeptic, here are two examples to reconsider.
If you don't adopt some good cyber security habits and continue to, for example, usesIf you use the same passwords over and over again, at worst, a malicious criminal will gain access to your personal data and potentially steal your identity, empty your bank accounts, damage your reputation and credit ability, and this is only the tip of the iceberg.
The immediate impact will be on you and possibly your loved ones.
Going into the professional side of cybersecurity, loose habits in a work environment can be detrimental to thousands of people. This is doubly true for people working in critical infrastructure. The Colonial Pipeline attack, for example, is one such case: a stolen password allowed cybercriminals to enter the system and lock it with ransomware (malware for extortion and ransom).
In an other case, hacker attempted to poison the water supply in a city in Florida, USA. And let's not forget all those healthcare facilities that were hit by ransomware attacks and were unable to provide patients with proper treatment.
Most of these incidents could have been avoided if appropriate cyber security measures had been implemented and people had behaved intelligently.
How to behave intelligently in cyberspace
How can you begin to take cybersecurity seriously and behave wisely? Well, as cliché as it sounds, one of the best things you can do is learn the basics.
This means that when it comes to passwords, you should definitely choose a strong password instead of a simple password that you can easily memorize, and you should always do everything you can to avoid the deadly sins of password creation. access. If you are the type of person who has dozens of passwords, it would probably be a good idea to use a password manager. This will simplify the process of following the passwords as all you will have to do from now on is remember only one central password: the one that will put you in the password manager.
Once you've got your passwords in order, you should consider adding an extra layer of security by using multi-factor authentication, which can take many forms, from password generator apps to wrenches hardware and biometrics.
The security of your devices is another issue that you should never underestimate - therefore, always keep them clean, up to date by applying all repairs in a timely manner, and use a reliable security solution that will protect you from most threats.
And while technology can help, remember to keep your mind clear. This means that you should approach what you see on the dianetwork, either on social media or in your email post office, with a healthy dose of skepticism. So, be wary of clicking on links or following offers that seem even slightly unusual or excessive.
Final thoughts
Keep in mind that while cybersecurity awareness campaigns only last this month, cybersecurity awareness is a year-round affair. Remember to never relax your defense and make sure you apply your cybersecurity knowledge to what you do online.
And now that you've learned the basics, you're ready to take on bigger fish (phish). Stay tuned for the second weekteam of October, where we will take a closer look at how you can "protect yourself from phishing". Also, be sure to learn more about the campaign and check out the weekly themes at StaySafeOnline.org.
