October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This time of the year is a perfect opportunity to review your own cybersecurity. Are all your passwords unique and stored away securely? Are you using two factor authentication wherever possible?
The good news is that you can always boost your cybersecurity. Use these 7 cybersecurity tips as a checklist for your own benefit when using the worldwide web.
Let’s be honest—most of us are guilty of overusing some passwords. The truth is you should be using a unique password for each platform you use. Using the same password for multiple accounts makes it easier for hackers to access your information.
Here are some tips you can follow when it comes to your passwords:
Two-factor authentication is a security measure that uses two methods to confirm your identity. These two methods could be your password for the application and your thumbprint, for instance. Other methods could be your facial identity, a text message sent to your phone, or a one-time passcode.
There are also several two-factor authentication apps available. With 2FA, you start by entering your password. Next, you’ll use your phone or mobile device to confirm you are accessing the platform through the 2FA app.
Don’t keep hitting skip on the update pop-ups that keep appearing on your device. Make sure your computers, phones, tablets, and other devices are updated. This also goes for any software that you use. By enlisting regular updates, you’ll be protecting yourself and your information from hackers and malware.
Turn on automatic updates if your device has them. This way, you won’t even need to think twice when new upgrades are made available.
Phishing is when a hacker sends out an email or other message that looks legitimate but is not. Their intent is to get you to reveal personal information or account details. Here are some things you should look for if you’re unsure if an email, text, or other communication is a phishing attempt:
The sender – just because you recognize the name used in the email, doesn’t mean it’s from that person. Look at the email address itself; if it’s a phishing email, you likely won’t recognize it!
Grammatical errors – is the message riddled with misspellings, strange grammar, and odd word choices? If so, this could be a phishing attempt.
Links – if you don’t recognize the sender, and the message has common red flags of phishing, DO NOT click on any links or open any attachments.
If you suspect you’ve fallen victim to a phishing scam and your American Heritage account could be compromised, contact us immediately at 215.969.0777. Remember, no one from American Heritage will ever contact you by any means to ask for personal information or account details.
You should never use public Wi-Fi for any sensitive transactions, like making payments, completing forms with personal or health information, or anything that contains your Social Security number or other personal information. Reserve these instances for when you are using your own secure Wi-Fi at home or are using another trusted network.
Just as it’s crucial to secure your passwords, it’s important to also ensure your data is safe. Regularly backing up your data can protect it from a data breach or accidental loss. Your data includes things like mobile applications (and your activity within them), photos, contacts, and more.
If you own and use a mobile device, this may be something that happens in the background already. You also may want to use cloud-based services, like Google Drive and Dropbox, which automatically sync and back up your files. If you have a lot of items you wanted saved and stored, consider using a hard drive.
It’s always a good rule of thumb to limit the amount of personal information you share online, especially through social media. Always think before you post and consider setting your accounts to private. In doing this, you’ll be preventing hackers from seeing details that could be clues to something like your passwords.