With October being Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we’re focusing on key practices to help protect your identity and secure your information from online threats. While our IT department is diligently working to address these cyber activities, your preemptive efforts can make a big difference. Here are four steps you can take to reduce your risk:
Editor’s Note: Click on each TIP # to view an instructional video on how to start implementing the practice.
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TIP #1: Avoid Reusing Passwords & Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are long, random, unique and include all four character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols). Password managers are a powerful tool to help you create strong passwords for each of your accounts. Do not reuse passwords and at least 15 characters long.
Fun fact #1 — The image below contains an example threat report of compromised passwords that exist on the Dark Web for our Business Systems Manager’s personal email account. A threat actor, with today’s technology, can crack a 7 character password (1 capital letter, 6 lower case letters) in 9 minutes. It will only take them 2.6 days to crack an 8 character password. It will take them 7.5 million years to crack a 12 character password with uppercase, lower case, number & symbol.
TIP #2: Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
You need more than a password to protect your online accounts and enabling MFA makes you significantly less likely to get breached. Enable MFA on all your online accounts that offer it, especially email, social media, and financial accounts.
TIP #3: Keep Your Software Updated
Ensuring your software is up to date is the best way to make sure you have the latest security patches and updates on your devices. Regularly check for updates or turn on automatic updates if available.
Fun Fact #2 — This image shows the number of vulnerabilities in each iOS version at the time of writing:
TIP #4: Recognize and Report Phishing Scams
Phishing is a tactic used to get us to open a malicious attachment or share personal information. Always verify the source before click on links or downloading attachments from unfamiliar emails or messages. Remember… Recognize, Resist, and Delete.
Fun Fact #3 — Ever wonder how many phishing emails Baranko Companies receives? Here is a report from this last year. Check out the Rejections (includes viruses & spam) section.
