Yep, I pretty much missed it. Here it is, October 30, 2020, and I’m just now telling you that October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. I guess it slipped my mind since I pretty much think every day is a cyber security awareness day.
This year, many websites – including the FBI – dedicated special pages to ways to protect yourself from Cyber Crime. I could list a ton of links and ask you to go visit them but, instead, I’m going to share the most important suggestions as shown on the FBI’s site.
- Keep software systems up to date and use a good anti-virus program.
- Examine the email address and URLs in all correspondence. Scammers often mimic a legitimate site or email address by using a slight variation in spelling.
- If an unsolicited text message, email, or phone call asks you to update, check, or verify your account information, do not follow the link provided in the message itself or call the phone numbers provided in the message. Go to the company’s website to log into your account or call the phone number listed on the official website to see if something does in fact need your attention.
- Do not open any attachments unless you are expecting the file, document, or invoice and have verified the sender’s email address.
- Scrutinize all electronic requests for a payment or transfer of funds.
- Be extra suspicious of any message that urges immediate action.
- Confirm requests for wire transfers or payment in person or over the phone as part of a two-factor authentication process. Do not verify these requests using the phone number listed in the request for payment.
I know, sometimes, it can feel like all the security issues that we have to deal with online aren’t worth the effort. Let’s just pack away our computing devices and call it a day. Unfortunately, it’s too late for us to do that.
Let me share this analogy: Let’s say you own a convenience store and you’ve displayed all the candy near the front door thinking everyone would see it and buy more candy. After a month, you realize that, because it’s near the door, more people are stealing the candy on their way out instead of buying the candy on their way in. Would you pack up your convenience store and sell it or close it? No, of course you wouldn’t. You’d move the candy! (Have you ever noticed in most convenience stores the candy is close to or in view of the cash register?) Same thing with the Internet. Plus, just about everything is done online now so there’s no turning back. Just be careful!
If you do want to read more about Cyber Security Month, here are some links of interest:
Finally, if you use Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) you might want to take a few minutes and go through this module offered by KnowBe4: HERE.