Amp up your cybersecurity

What is cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity involves protecting systems, networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access and digital attacks. 

Since a lot of daily life relies on computers and the Internet, it’s important to learn how to protect yourself online.

Why is it important?

Think about how many times you’ve used your phone today, your computer, your tablet. Think about all the devices you have in your home. Think about all the apps you use for communication, entertainment, transportation, shopping. Having all these things at your fingertips is convenient, but it also puts more of your sensitive personal information at risk if you’re not taking the right precautions.

There are many risks to having poor cybersecurity, some more serious than others. Malware could erase your entire system, an attacker could break into your system and alter files, an attacker could use your computer to attack others or steal your credit card information to make unauthorized purchases. Even with the best precautions, there’s no guarantee that it won’t happen to you, but there are steps you can take to minimize the chances.

Talk to your kids

Keep an open line of communication regarding cybersecurity with your kids to keep them safe.

Adjust your privacy settings and parental controls on any device that your kids use, and make sure they learn how to spot unusual behavior online. Supervise their screen time and surfing activity so you know who they interact with online. Check their apps and devices frequently and make sure they aren’t sharing sensitive information, like their phone number, address or location, publicly.

As they get older, remind them that once information is online, it’s online forever.

Best practices

Lock it up

Always lock your computer before leaving your desk. It may seem trivial, but your computer stores sensitive personal and business information, and this is a simple step you can take to restrict access to your system.

Keep it updated

Software updates typically include security patches that defend against threats, so install updates to all your devices when they’re released (or better yet, set them to automatically update).

Domain Name System (DNS) filtering

DNS filters prevent devices on your network from connecting to known bad websites and help prevent phishing, ransomware, spyware, and viruses. You can even use DNS filtering to set parental controls to limit kids’ access to inappropriate websites, limit screen time, and monitor surfing activity. There are several free options online, like Quad9, Cleanbrowsing, and OpenDNS.

Surf cautiously

Don’t click on any link unless you know you can trust the source and you are certain of where the link will send you. Make sure that “https” is displayed as part of URLs you visit because that shows the authenticity of the security certificate on the webpage you’re visiting.

Use strong passwords

Your dog’s name won’t cut it. You should aim for unique and long passwords for every account, and those should include upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. Use a password manager if you’re worried about remembering all the different combinations.

Beware of scams

Telephone scams

Telephone scams may come through calls from real people, robocalls, or text messages. Oftentimes, these scammers will make false promises like opportunities to invest, free product trials, money through grants or lotteries, and some may even call with threats of jail or lawsuits if you don’t pay them.

You can report telephone scams to the Federal Trade Commission, report all robocalls and unwanted telemarketing calls to the Do Not Call Registry, report caller ID spoofing to the Federal Communications Commission, and report scams to your state consumer protection office.

You can also register your phone with the National Do Not Call Registry. If you’re still receiving telemarketing calls after registering, there’s a good chance those calls are scams. Don’t pick up your phone for unknown callers, and if you do, don’t share your personal information and hang up if the call is suspicious.

Banking scams

Banking scams attempt to access your bank account, for example:

  • Overpayment scams –  You get a check with instructions to deposit it in your bank account and wire part of the money back to someone. Since the check was fake, you’ll have to pay your bank the amount of the check, plus you’ll lose any money you wired.

  • Unsolicited check fraud – You get a check you weren’t expecting. If you cash it, you may be authorizing the purchase of items or signing up for a loan you didn’t ask for.

  • Automatic withdrawals – A company sets up an automatic debit from your bank account, as part of a free trial or to collect lottery winnings.

  • Phishing – You get an email message that asks you to verify your bank account or debit card number.

You can report fake checks you receive by mail to the US Postal Inspection Service, report counterfeit checks to the Federal Trade Commission, contact your bank to stop unauthorized automatic withdrawals from your account, and forward phishing emails to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov. 

Don’t automatically trust the appearance of checks or money orders. Don’t deposit checks or money orders from strangers or companies you don’t have a relationship with. You can always verify the authenticity with the bank that it’s drawn on before depositing a check. When verifying the authenticity, use the contact information on the bank’s website, not the check itself.