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BBB Trends: October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month; how to stay safe, secure online


By Sandra Guile
Better Business Bureau

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) created in 2003 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and National Cyber Security Alliance to ensure everyone has the resources they need to stay safe and secure online. The goal of NCSAM is to increase the awareness of the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape and bring attention to different measures people can take to keep their information protected.

The rapid changes in tech options – from the latest smartphones to the newest additions to the Internet of Things, like the Amazon Echo and the wireless refrigerator – may make it hard to keep your personal information truly personal. Fortunately, there are 4 things people can do to protect themselves regardless of the technology being used.

Keep Your Guard Up

Technology alone will never be able to fully protect you. Attackers have learned that the easiest way to bypass even the most advanced security technology is by attacking the user. If they want passwords, credit card numbers, or personal data, the easiest thing for them to do is to trick you into giving them this information. They’ll send a phishing email or call your phone pretending to be a tech support company and claim that your computer is infected. Then, they’ll demand remote access to your computer so they can “fix” it.

This method is called social engineering and is the easiest way for a cybercriminal to get the information they want without really having to do much work. By staying alert and ignoring requests from unfamiliar organizations, users can stop scammers in their tracks. Make sure to delete emails from unknown senders without opening them and remember that Microsoft or Apple won’t call to talk about tech support issues using your device.

Pick a Proper Password

The next step involves using a strong, unique password for each electronic device or online account that no one else knows. A strong password means one that cannot be easily guessed by hackers or by their automated programs. Try using a passphrase instead of a single word. An example might be a series of words that are easy to remember, such as “Where is my coffee?” The longer the passphrase is, the stronger. A unique password means using a different password for each device and online account. This way, if one password is compromised, all of your other accounts and devices are still safe.

Update As Soon As Possible

Device manufacturers periodically send out software updates for computers, mobile devices, apps, and anything else connected to the Internet. Cybercriminals are constantly looking for new vulnerabilities in the software these devices use. When they discover it, they’ll use special programs to exploit them and hack into the devices to look for personal and financial information. By ensuring all of the electronic devices are updated, it makes it much more difficult for someone to hack into them. To stay current, simply enable automatic updating whenever possible. This rule applies to almost any technology connected to a network, including Internet-connected TVs, baby monitors, home routers, gaming consoles, and maybe your car.

Back It Up

Despite people’s best efforts – like changing passwords, avoiding rogue emails, and carefully monitoring all Internet activity – somehow a hacker can still get in. If it happens, depending on the circumstance, the only option to ensure your computer or mobile device is free of malware may be to wipe the hard drive and rebuild it from scratch. The only way to restore all of the data is from backup. Make sure you’re doing regular backups of important information and verify that it’s possible to restore from them.

National Cyber Security Awareness Month is an ideal time to become cyber aware. If you’re not sure where to begin, visit staysafeonline.org or bbb.org/cybersecurity for more information.

Sandra Guile is the Community Outreach Specialist for BBB. She promotes BBB’s message of marketplace ethics through public speaking engagements, presentations, media relations, press releases, web content, and other written materials. Your BBB is located at 1 East 4th Street Suite 600 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 – to reach the office, call (513) 421-3015.


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