Tips from the National Cybersecurity Alliance
Think Before You Click.
Cyber criminals are distributing malware campaigns that impersonate reputable sources by asking you to click on links. Slow down. Don't click. Go directly to a reputable website to access the content. As more employees work and learn from home, basic security measures need to be taken to protect the individual and enterprise from cyber criminals who are taking advantage of lax security practices.
Connect to a Secure Network.
Always use a company-issued Virtual Private Network to access any work accounts. Home routers should be updated to the most current software and secured with a lengthy, unique passphrase. Employees should not be connecting to public WiFi to access work accounts unless using a VPN. Separate your network so your company devices are on their own WiFi network, and your personal devices are on their own.
Share with care.
Be aware that when you post a picture or message, you may also be inadvertently sharing personal details and sensitive data with strangers about yourself, family and friends. It is OK to limit who can see what you share. Learn about privacy and security settings on your favorite websites. NCSA has an excellent and recently updated resource that includes direct links to update your privacy settings on popular devices and online services.
Lock Down Your Login.
Create long and unique usernames for all accounts and use multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. The more unique your username and password, the less exposed your account is to credential stuffing. A strong passphrase is a sentence that is at least 12 characters long. Focus on sentences or phrases that are easy to remember. On many sites, you can even use spaces. MFA will fortify your accounts by enabling the strongest authentication tools available, such as biometrics or a unique one-time code sent to your phone or mobile device. This additional layer of security makes it harder for cybercriminals to log in as if they were you.
Information and tips provided by the National Cybersecurity Alliance. Visit their website for more information on cybersecurity.