As a part of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month we will take a look at different areas of Cybersecurity each week during the month of October. This week we will focus on making your home a haven for online safety.
Today, many households have parents, toddlers, tweens, teens and grandparents living under one roof. Each of these age groups is likely to have unique awareness levels and online habits. With consumer interest in smart home products increasing – 48 percent of U.S. consumers intend to buy at least one smart home device in 2018 ‒ ongoing education for all generations is critical. It is important to note that in spite of the spike in potential product purchase, there is great concern among consumers about privacy and security. By continuously learning about and practicing good cybersecurity at home, the entire household and online community at large will reap the benefits of a more secure, connected world.
NCSA’s Top STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ Tips
This week, and throughout October, follow these STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ tips for a safer and more secure digital life.
- Lock down your login: Your usernames and passwords are not enough to protect key accounts like email, banking and social media. Strengthen online accounts and use strong authentication tools like a unique, one-time code through an app on your mobile device.
- Keep a clean machine: Keep all software on internet-connected devices – including personal computers, smartphones and tablets – current to reduce risk of infection from ransomware and malware.
- When in doubt, throw it out: Links in email, tweets, posts and online advertising are often how cybercriminals try to compromise your information. If it looks suspicious, even if you know the source, it’s best to delete or, if appropriate, mark as junk.
- Back it up: Protect your valuable work, music, photos and other digital information by making an electronic copy and storing it safely. If you have a copy of your data and your device falls victim to ransomware or other cyber threats, you will be able to restore the data from a backup.
- Personal information is like money. Value it. Protect it.: Be thoughtful about who gets that information and how it is collected.
source: Stay Safe Online