Be Cyber Smart

At a time when we are more connected than ever, being “cyber smart” is of the utmost importance. This year has already seen more than a fair share of attacks and breaches, including the SolarWinds and Kaseya breaches as well as high-profile attacks on the Colonial Pipeline and other critical infrastructure. Furthermore, as has been underlined by these recent breaches, cyber-attacks are becoming more sophisticated with more evolved bad actors cropping up each day. Luckily, there are several steps that we can take on a daily basis to mitigate risks and stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. 

Enable MFA

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2fa) adds that necessary second check to verify your identity when logging in to one of your accounts. By requiring multiple methods of authentication, your account is further protected from being compromised, even if a bad actor hijacks your password. In this way, MFAs make it more difficult for password cracking tools to enable attackers to break into accounts. You can take it one step further by using a Yubikey authenticator which provides MFA with the click of a button. 

Check out the 2fa Directory to view a list of popular websites where MFA is supported and how to enable it.

Use Strong Passphrases/Password Manager

This may seem obvious, but all too often securing strong passphrases/password managers is overlooked. People spending more time online during the pandemic has certainly contributed to more bad actors prowling for accounts to attack. Using long, complex, and unique passwords is a good way to stop your account from being hacked, and an easy way of keeping track and remembering your passwords is by using a password manager.

Learn how to set up a password manager and how to create strong passphrases!

Perform Software Updates

When a device prompts that it’s time to update the software, it may be tempting to simply click postpone, and ignore the message. However, having the latest security software, web browser, and operating system on devices is one of the best defenses against online threats. So, don’t wait - update.

Learn how to update operating systems and smart devices to the newest version!

Check Your Settings

Be diligent and double check your privacy and security settings. Most websites, browsers, and other online services will frequently change their privacy settings. It is important to periodically check the privacy settings for the websites and services for which you have an account. Be aware of who can access your documents. This extends from Google docs, to Zoom calls, and beyond. For meetings on Zoom, for example, create passwords so only those invited to the session can attend, and restrict who can share their screen or files with the rest of the attendees.