It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month – Are You Prepared?

Every year, since 2003, we have celebrated National Cyber Security Awareness Month.  We want to help you stay safe and secure online this October so check out some tips below.

#1 Use an Encrypted Network

Scary Stuff: Normally, public and cafe Wi-Fi networks are insecure networks because they are unencrypted. Whether you use a mobile device, a laptop or a computer, hackers could attack your device and get access to your information and online activity!

This exposes your private data to cybercriminals who can use packet sniffing attacks to spy on your online traffic. 

What Should You Do?: Use a VPN to encrypt your traffic so others can’t see it. A Virtual Private Network uses an encrypted connection which protects the data you share or receive on your device from the eyes of hackers. 

#2 Use strong password protection

Scary Stuff: Weak passwords can quickly turn into compromised passwords, which can be a significant threat to your online security. Sure, remembering the name of your first pet, your birth date, or your mom’s name is really easy and it can be just as easy for hackers to find out this information about you and compromise all your accounts. They don’t even have to try to guess because they use a tool that checks for common, predictable passwords, which basically checks millions of character combinations. 

What Should You Do?: When you choose a weak password, you are making it easier and faster for hackers to succeed to access your data. Cybercriminals can get access to your email, social media accounts, and more sensitive data such as your financial data. 

Create strong passwords.  Click here to check out our blog on how to create a strong password.

#3 Avoid pop-ups, unknown emails, and links

Scary Stuff: Should you click on every link you receive? Absolutely not because you’ll definitely sooner or later become a victim of phishing. Cybercriminals use phishing to create a security breach that will allow them to compromise all your personal data. 

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What Should You Do?: Learn more about how to protect yourself and download our phishing infographic by clicking the link.