It was the night before Cyber, and throughout the house,
Not a hacker was stirring, not even their mouse.
The firewalls were hung by the router with care,
In the hope that cyber threats wouldn’t dare.
The holidays are here and it’s about more than wrapping presents or filling stockings. It’s also about keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe online. This article is inspired by the classic Christmas tale, so let’s unwrap some cybersecurity tips for the holiday season.
1. Lock down your chimney (or network)
In the same way that Santa slides down the chimney, so can hackers enter your network if it’s not properly protected.
- Ensure that your router’s password is changed to a strong and unique password.
- Update all your devices to the latest security patches.
- Review the devices that have access to your Wi-Fi and remove any devices that you do not recognize.
- Consider using a firewall to block unwanted visitors.
2. Wrap your passwords with extra ribbon
You would never leave your gifts unwrapped under the Christmas tree, so don’t leave your accounts unprotected either.
- Always create complex and unique passwords for your accounts.
- Enable MFA on all your accounts, wherever it is available.
- Don’t share your passwords with anyone.
3. Look out for the cyber grinches
If you can remember, the Grinch tried to steal Christmas. Unfortunately, hackers will try to steal your data and your money.
- Be aware of phishing scams. These emails will try to trick you with incredible deals or urgent requests.
- Check the email sender’s information by hovering over their name to view their email address.
- Hover over links within an email to check the URL destination before clicking.
4. If it’s too good to be true…
We are all looking for the best deals this season but be wary of unbelievable deals. Any deal that seems too good to be true, probably is.
- Don’t click on ads or deals that seem unrealistic – they are probably fake.
- Remember to check for the padlock (“https”) at the beginning of a website’s name. This shows that the website has additional security.
- Only use retailers you trust and who offer secure payment methods.
5. Protect Santa’s workshop
Ensure your devices are protected. Your smart phone, tablet, laptop, whatever it may be, check that it is not left open to unwanted visitors.
- Use a good antivirus app on your devices. The antivirus will check for malware and help block possible cyber threats.
- Whenever you want to use a new app, download it from the official app stores.
- Update your apps regularly to reduce vulnerabilities that can leave holes in your software.
6. Keep the elves safe
The kids will probably spend more time online than usual as part of their holiday fun. This holiday, you will need to ensure that they are safe and protected online.
- Enable parental controls on devices to filter the content available to them making it kid friendly.
- Remind your kids not to share personal information online or click on links from people they don’t know.
- Online gaming can be fun but there are always cyberbullies or scammers around. Make sure that you know what’s happening during in-game chats.
7. Sleep tight, don’t let the ransomware bite
Cybercriminals will take advantage of the season and try to target you. But don’t fall for their schemes. Protect yourself from becoming the next ransomware victim these holidays by following these tips:
- Create backups of all your important files in a separate location, such as an external drive or cloud service.
- Do not download any suspicious files or apps on your devices.
- Never provide personal information to unfamiliar requests or on unknown websites.
Enjoy the holidays!
The festive season is a time for fun, joy, and happiness. Follow these cybersecurity tips to reduce your worry and stress during the holidays.
The stockings were hung, the devices secured,
The family’s online safety was ensured.
With strong password set and backups in place,
Cyber threats dared not show their face.
And I heard them exclaim, we’re done for the night,
Happy browsing to all, stay safe with our site!
