Imagine this: you wake up one morning to find that your bank account has been emptied overnight. Someone halfway across the world has accessed your account using a password you thought was secure. Incidents like these are unfortunately becoming more common, with identity theft and fraud cases steadily increasing over the last decade.
This month is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, with the theme “Secure Our World,” which serves as a timely reminder to reassess and enhance your cybersecurity strategies against ever-evolving cyber threats. In an election year, the digital landscape becomes a breeding ground for cyber scams and malicious activities aimed at exploiting political fervor and public uncertainty. With the 2024 election on the horizon, it’s more critical than ever to strengthen our cybersecurity defenses.
By prioritizing cybersecurity awareness and implementing robust protective measures during this dedicated month, you can safeguard your personal information, protect your financial assets, and ensure the security of your digital interactions. Let’s explore five simple yet powerful ways to increase your internet security and have peace of mind in today’s digital landscape.
1. Use Complex Passwords and a Password Manager
Passwords serve as the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your accounts but 78% of people use the same password for more than one account. Here’s how you can create and manage complex passwords:
- Aim for at least 12 characters.
- Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Avoid easily guessable information like birthdays or names.
- Consider using a password manager, which generates and stores complex passwords for each of your accounts securely. They also autofill passwords for you, reducing the temptation to use weak or duplicate passwords.
2. Turn On Multifactor Authentication
Multifactor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring two or more of the following factors to access your accounts:
- Knowledge Factor: Something only the user knows, such as a password or PIN.
- Possession Factor: Something the user has, like a smartphone or security token that generates a one-time code.
- Inherence Factor: Something inherent to the user, such as biometric data (fingerprint, facial recognition).
Follow these steps to enable multifactor authentication:
- Go to your account settings on each platform (e.g., email, social media, banking).
- Look for the security or privacy settings.
- Enable MFA by choosing to receive a code via SMS, email, or a dedicated app like Google Authenticator or Authy.
- Follow the prompts to complete the setup.
3. Recognize and Report Phishing Attempts
Phishing is a common tactic used by cybercriminals to trick you into revealing sensitive information by impersonating legitimate entities, such as banks or reputable companies, to lure individuals into disclosing sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers. These attacks often occur via email, text messages, or fake websites designed to appear authentic, exploiting human trust and curiosity to steal valuable data for malicious purposes.
How to spot phishing attempts
Identifying Phishing Emails:
- Check the sender’s email address for inconsistencies or suspicious domains.
- Be skeptical of urgent language, requests for personal information, or threats of consequences.
- Verify links by hovering over them to see the actual URL before clicking.
- If an email contains an attachment that you weren’t expecting or that seems suspicious (such as .exe files), do not open it. Attachments can contain malware that compromises your computer’s security.
Reporting Phishing:
- If you receive a phishing email, report it to the organization being impersonated (e.g., your bank).
- Most email providers also have tools to report phishing directly from your inbox.
4. Update Software Regularly
Software updates, also known as patches, often include security fixes to protect against known vulnerabilities. Here’s how to keep your software up to date:
Updating Operating Systems and Applications:
- Enable automatic updates on your devices: Most operating systems (such as Windows, macOS, and Linux) and software applications allow you to enable automatic updates. This feature ensures that your software receives the latest patches and security fixes without requiring manual intervention.
- Check for Updates Manually: Even if you have automatic updates enabled, it’s a good practice to manually check for updates periodically, especially for critical software like your operating system, web browsers, antivirus programs, and any applications you use frequently.
- Mobile Devices and Apps: For smartphones and tablets, regularly check for updates in your device’s settings. Additionally, update apps from trusted app stores like Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iOS).
- Update All Software: It’s not just your operating system and major applications that need updating. Remember to update plugins (like Adobe Flash, Java, and browser extensions) and firmware for devices like routers connected to your network.
5. Secure Your Social Media
Social media platforms are integral parts of modern communication, but they also pose significant security risks if not managed carefully. Here are essential tips to enhance your social media security:
- Review Privacy Settings: Regularly review and adjust your privacy settings on social media platforms to control who can see your posts, personal information, and contact details. Limit the visibility of your profile and posts to only those you trust. Social Privacy Manager can streamline the customization of over 100 privacy settings on your social media accounts with just a few clicks.
- Be Cautious of Third-Party Apps: Review and revoke access for third-party applications linked to your social media accounts that no longer need access or seem suspicious. These apps can potentially compromise your account’s security.
By implementing these straightforward yet effective cybersecurity practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to online threats. McAfee+ can also keep you more secure and private online with 24/7 scans of the dark web to ensure your personal and financial info is safe, alerts about suspicious financial transactions and credit activity, and up to $2 million in identity theft coverage and restoration.
