Don’t let your guard down!
It’s back to school, and cybercriminals are also back in session. We must do our part in making sure they get a failing grade in hacking. Here is a checklist to get you ready for the semester.
Passwords
Time to reset your passwords and remember to make them unique and not something you have used in the past. If you can sprinkle in a few numbers and special characters you’ll make it harder for hackers to easily guess your password.
Updates
Keep all your frequently used applications up to date. This also includes your system updates. Get those done as soon as possible. An up-to-date device makes it harder for hackers to get the information they are looking for.
Situational Awareness
Be mindful of your surroundings and potential security threats. For example, if you get a random phone call or email from IT about an urgent security issue asking for your username and password, your awareness should kick in. Pause to think it through. Situational Awareness is a simple way to approach every interaction with thoughtful questions:
- Is this person really who they’re claiming to be?
- Why would they need the information right now?
- Is this how we normally handle this type of scenario?
- What’s the best way to verify if this situation is legitimate?
Contributed by ACC Information Security