Ezra Silver-Stewart

It’s October, which means two things: You can finally buy candy in bulk without fear of judgment, and it’s Cyber ​​Security Awareness Month. While the consequences of eating an entire bowl of funky Snickers may seem serious, cybersecurity mistakes can lead to even more suffering. In a world where public safety agencies rely on technology, keeping your information secure is more important than ever.

Here are five tips to protect yourself, your organization, and your community from cyber threats.

Use strong and unique passwords

This is not new advice, but it is still a priority. Long, complex, and unique passwords are your first line of defense against cybercriminals. Follow your organization’s password policy and consider using it as a template for keeping your personal passwords secure. Strong passwords consist of eight or more characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. For personal passwords password manager can help keep everything organized and safe.

Pro tip: Never reuse passwords for different accounts. One weak link can put multiple accounts at risk.

Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication requires you to verify your identity not only with a password, but also with a code sent to your phone or email. MFA is a powerful cybersecurity tool that also provides personal security. Consider enabling it for entry points for sensitive data, such as your inbox and banking sites.

Keep your software up to date

Don’t ignore that annoying pop-up asking you to update your software. Software updates often contain fixes for security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Outdated software is an open invitation for cybercriminals to get inside.

Pro tip: Turn on automatic updates whenever possible to take the guesswork out of security.

Be wary of phishing attempts

Phishing attacks are one of the most common ways for hackers to gain access to sensitive information. These attacks usually look like legitimate emails or messages, but are designed to trick you into giving up passwords or personal information. Look for suspicious links, grammatical errors, or requests for sensitive information. If in doubt, check the sender before clicking.

Pro tip: Hover your mouse over links in emails to see where they lead. And if something seems too good (or too scary) to be true, it probably is.

Follow Wi-Fi Safety Guidelines

Public Wi-Fi networks are a hot spot for cybercriminals. When accessing sensitive information, it is best to avoid public Wi-Fi networks. If you must use it, make sure you use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your data.

Pro tip: If you’re on the go and need to connect, consider using your phone’s data or a secure hotspot instead of public Wi-Fi.

Cybersecurity isn’t just for local government IT departments. This is for everyone. This October, let’s leave the scary haunted houses and scary volumes of candy behind your inbox and the web.

About the author

Ezra Silver-Stewart is an editor and content writer in Lexipol’s Content Quality and Operations team.