Prioritize Cyber Hygiene

You may have heard of the term cyber hygiene, but what exactly does that mean? Cyber hygiene refers to the steps and practices that individuals or organizations take to proactively maintain or increase the security of devices, networks, data and users. There are many practices you can implement to up your cyber hygiene and keep yourself safe online.  

REGULAR UPDATES 

Whether it's software, apps, browsers or extensions, be sure to update your devices and systems as new updates are made available. This will guarantee you have the most current versions, and it will decrease the risk of potential threats, scams or hacks. Be on the lookout for new or upcoming updates, as some companies don't always notify their users. Find out if you are due for a software update.   

ACCOUNT SECURITY 

Passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA) are two great tools to keep your account secure and elevate your cyber hygiene. Your passwords or passphrases should be long, unique and free of personal information (e.g., birthdays, SSN, dates) while also paired with MFA. Enabling MFA on your devices and/or accounts will provide an added layer of security that decreases the risk of being hacked.  

SENDING AND RECEIVING EMAILS 

Phishing attempts can come in many forms (phone calls, emails, texts, etc.), so it is imperative that you are able to identify what could potentially be a scam. Keep your inbox clean by deleting junk mail and reporting any suspicious emails in Outlook. You should also ensure you are sending safe emails so that your emails do not get marked as spam, junk or fraudulent.  

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month! The month of October is dedicated to providing resources and awareness to help people around the country stay safe online. Everyone can take simple steps to protect themselves when using technology and the internet such as identifying and reporting phishing emails, using MFA and keeping your software updated. For more tips and information on how you can stay cyber safe, visit the IT Services cybersecurity checklist or the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).