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 cybersecurity (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.
After all, cybersecurity is a collective responsibility, and by adopting appropriate cyber-hygiene practices, both at work and in our personal lives, we ensure that cybercriminals have fewer access points to devices, thus limiting the threat landscape.
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 keep, for example, using the same passwords over and over again access, at worst, a malicious criminal will gain access to your personal data and potentially be able to steal your identity, empty your bank accounts, damage your reputation and credit, and that's just the top of the iceberg.
The immediate impact will be on you and possibly your loved ones.
Moving on to the professional side of cybersecurity, lax habits in a work environment can be detrimental to thousands of people. This is doubly true for people who work in critical infrastructure. The attack on, say, the Colonial Pipeline fuel pipeline is one such case: a stolen password allowed cybercriminals to enter the system and lock it with ransomware (malicious software for extortion and ransom).
In another case, a hacker attempted to poison a water supply in a US city of Florida. And let's not forget all those healthcare facilities that were hit by ransomware attacks and could not offer patients the 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 passphrase rather than a simple password that you can easily remember, and you should always do your best to avoid the deadly sins of password creation access. If you're the type of person who has dozens of passwords, it's probably a good idea to use a password manager. This will simplify it procedure that you follow with passwords since all you will do from here on out is remember only one central password: the one that will put you in the password manager.
Once you've sorted out your passwords, you should consider adding an extra layer of security by using auditing identity multi-factor authentication, which can take many forms, from code-generating apps to hardware keys 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, whether on social media or in your email, 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 have learned the basics, you are ready to face bigger fish (phish). Stay tuned for the second week of October, where we will take a closer look at how you can "protect yourself from e-fishing". Also, be sure to find out more about the campaign and see the weekly issues at StaySafeOnline.org.
