It’s a new year! You have probably already reflected what you achieved last year and what you could improve this year. But have you included your cybersecurity habits? Your online safety habits play an important role in making sure that you stay protected online. So, here are five questions to ask yourself about your cybersecurity habits.
1. What is the state of my passwords?
Your password is often your first line of defense against a cyberattack. So, how well are you doing with using secure passwords?
- Have you created strong and complex passwords for all your accounts?
- Have you made sure not to reuse the same password for different accounts?
- Have you enabled multifactor authentication, or MFA, on your accounts for additional security?
If you answered No to any of these questions, you need to make secure passwords one of your cybersecurity habits for this year. Set time aside to list your accounts and check that your passwords are at least 12 characters long, contain different characters, and have MFA enabled.
2. Did I notice any phishing attempts?
Perhaps you managed your passwords well last year, but how are doing with recognizing phishing attempts?
- Have you clicked on any suspicious links in emails?
- Have you provided any personal information?
- Have you educated yourself on the basics of phishing?
Unfortunately, phishing attacks aren’t going anywhere this year. Therefore, it is important to ensure that you can easily recognize them. Remember to take a moment before responding to any urgent requests and brush up on your awareness skills.
3. Did I keep my connections secure?
It is easy to connect to public or free Wi-Fi when you’re at the mall, having dinner at a great restaurant, or exploring a new location. But public Wi-Fi can be risky. Ask yourself:
- Have you used free Wi-Fi to perform sensitive transactions?
- Have you disabled automatic connections on your device?
- Have you used a VPN to secure your connection?
If you need to use public Wi-Fi, avoid using it for any sensitive transactions. For example, logging on to your bank account. If you need to perform sensitive transactions, use a VPN to encrypt your data to keep it safe.
4. Did I keep my software up to date?
It may feel like a hassle to update your software but it’s important to ensure that you don’t have any vulnerabilities on your devices:
- Have you updated your software within a reasonable period?
- Have you enabled automatic updates for your apps and devices?
- Have you updated your antivirus regularly?
Updates are important to ensure that any vulnerabilities are fixed. If you tend to forget about updates, enable automatic updates so that you don’t have to manually check for them.
5. Did I share my cybersecurity awareness with anyone?
Cybersecurity is for everyone and sharing your knowledge can help others to stay safe online:
- Have you shared your knowledge with friends or family?
- Have you stayed up to date with relevant cybersecurity information?
- Have you avoided forwarding suspicious links or messages?
Sharing your cybersecurity knowledge will not only help others stay protected, but it will reinforce your own habits as well. Keep those closest to you safe online by sharing interesting stories or simple tips to help them improve their own cybersecurity awareness.
Cybersecurity habits are not about being perfect; it’s about progress. These questions will help you identify where you did well and where you can improve. Cybersecurity is a journey – let’s build better habits together this year!
