Hooray! October is here and that means it’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month. You may not be as excited as us, but you should still do your part and be aware of how you interact online. The more interconnected we become online, the more windows of opportunity created for cybercriminals. So let’s do our part to stop them by following some simple security steps when working online.
From Stop.Think.Connect.:
- 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 biometrics, security keys or a unique, one-time code through an app on your mobile device – whenever offered.
- 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.
- Own your online presence: Set the privacy and security settings on websites to your comfort level for information sharing. It is OK to limit how and with whom you share information.
- Share with care: Think before posting about yourself and others online. Consider what a post reveals, who might see it and how it might affect you or others.
- Personal information is like money. Value it. Protect it.: Information about you, such as purchase history or location, has value – just like money. Be thoughtful about who gets that information and how it is collected by apps, websites and all connected devices.
If you are concerned that your valuable business data is not as protected as it should be, contact us at Great Lakes Computer Corporation in Northeast Ohio. We have been serving the IT needs of businesses locally and nationwide for over 30 years. We offer a range of data security related services, from antivirus to backup and recovery to cloud computing. We can find a solution that works for you.
