What Does Internet Security Month Entail?
Every June, the internet safety community acknowledges Month of Cybersecurity as a period for self-reflection on our digital routines and guaranteeing that we’re taking the most effective precautions to remain secure online. It acts as a reminder for all individuals—mothers, educators, and children included—to be cautious of our online behaviors and to take measures to safeguard ourselves.
Why Does it Carry Significance?
As we near summer and engage in some additional leisure time—which generally involves more screen time—it’s crucial to comprehend the threats and protect our digital welfare. While the World Wide Web offers us numerous possibilities, it also presents hazards that we must acknowledge:
- 37% of young people have faced cyber harassment.1
- 50% of preteens (children aged 10 to 12) have encountered inappropriate web content.2
- 64% of US citizens have undergone a data breach.3
- 95% of security breaches occur due to human mistakes.4
- 30% of phishing emails are accessed by the intended users.5
This establishes Month of Cybersecurity as the ideal moment to reassess our digital practices and guarantee that we are implementing all feasible measures to stay secure.
Seven Pointers to Uphold Your Online Security
- Shield Your Gadgets Against Malware
Malware denotes malevolent software engineered to harm your device or pilfer your personal data. It can infiltrate your system through harmful downloads, phishing emails, or compromised websites, leading to potential loss of accessibility to your device, data, images, and other significant files.
How to safeguard it
Deploy trustworthy antivirus software such as Webroot on all your devices and ensure its regular updates. Conduct routine scans on your devices for malware and refrain from clicking on dubious links or fetching unknown files.
2. Exercise Caution with Appealing Offers
When offers seem too enticing to be genuine, they typically aren’t. Fraudsters often utilize alluring offers or promotions to entice prey into divulging personal details or clicking on malevolent links. These could result in financial loss, identity theft, or the installation of malware.
How to protect it
If an offer appears too good to be true, it likely is. Investigate the firm or website prior to pursuing an offer or disclosing any personal information.
3. Supervise Your Identity for Suspicious Activity
Identity theft unfolds when someone absconds with your personal data to perpetrate fraud or other offenses. This can wreak havoc on your finances, plummet your credit rating, and introduce various other grave consequences.
How to safeguard it
Consider utilizing an identity safeguarding service like Webroot Premium to monitor your personal information for signs of unauthorized usage. Consistently review your bank and credit card statements to detect any unauthorized transactions.
4. Ensure Online Privacy with a VPN
Without adequate protection, malefactors can easily intercept your sensitive details—such as passwords and credit card particulars—during your browsing. Perusing the net and utilizing public Wi-Fi frequently lack security, providing hackers an optimal occasion to snatch your data.
How to safeguard it
Employ a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when you connect to the web. A VPN encodes your internet traffic, rendering it unreadable to hackers. Opt for a reputable VPN service and activate it each time you access the internet.
5. Avert Clicking on Links from Unfamiliar Sources
Following links in emails, text messages, or social media from unknown or dubious origins can expose you to phishing attacks or malware. These apparently innocuous clicks can expediently imperil your security and personal data.
How to safeguard it
Authenticate the sender’s identity before pursuing any links. Hover over links to scrutinize the actual URL prior to clicking. If uncertain about a link, directly type the company’s name into your browser.
6. Steer Clear of Vicious Websites
Vicious websites are engineered to deceive you into downloading malware or divulging sensitive data. Visiting these sites can subject your device to viruses, phishing endeavors, and other online perils, jeopardizing your security.
How to safeguard it
Implement a web hazard defense tool or browser add-on that can obstruct access to malicious websites. Products like Webroot Internet Security Plus and Webroot AntiVirus simplify evading threatening websites through secure web browsing on your computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.
7. Maintain Your Passwords Secure
Feeble or reused passwords are effortlessly surmised or cracked by intruders, jeopardizing your online accounts. Storing all your distinct passwords securely in a password manager can be challenging. If a single account is compromised, intruders can potentially access your other accounts, fostering identity theft or financial harm.
How to uphold your passwords
Rely on a password manager to generate and securely store robust, distinct passwords for each of your online accounts. A password manager crypts your passwords and automates filling them on websites, diminishing the risk of phishing schemes and password theft.
Take Immediate Measures
During the celebrations of Month of Cybersecurity, take a pause to review your prevailing online practices and security measures. Are you implementing every conceivable measure to safeguard yourself along with your family? If not, now is the optimum period to implement alterations. By adhering to these guidelines, you can savor a more secured and safer online encounter.
Remember, Month of Cybersecurity doesn’t solely entail preserving yourself—it also involves spreading knowledge and enlightening others. You can distribute this pamphlet, “9 Things to Teach Kids to Help Improve Online Safety,” with your acquaintances and family to extend awareness and foster a more secure online society for everyone.
Sources:
[1] Forbes. The Ultimate Internet Safety Guide for Kids.
[2] Forbes. The Ultimate Internet Safety Guide for Kids.
[4] Information Week. What Cybersecurity Gets Wrong.
[5] MIT. Learn how to avoid a phishing scam.
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