Information Security Month – Tech Tip
Tech Tips – Cybersecurity at Work and while Traveling
- Treat business information as personal information.
Hackers use seemingly random details about you and the organization you work for to better craft future attacks or social engineering campaigns. While a particular piece of information might seem harmless, it might be incredibly damaging when put together with other information. Just be cautious.
- Don’t make passwords easy to guess.
Don’t use:
Personal information such as birthdays, common phrases, phone numbers, social security numbers or pet names.
Previous passwords you used.
Do use:
At least 10 characters – more is better!
Numbers and special characters.
- If you connect it, protect it.
Whatever devices you use, both at work and while travelling, should be updated with the latest security software, web browser, and operating system. Automatic updates are very helpful here. If possible, keep your devices protected with antivirus software also!
- Stop auto connecting.
Turn off the feature that auto connects you to any available network your device sees. Remember your Mom saying “Put that down! You don’t know where it’s been!”? This is still great advice for wireless networks. If you aren’t sure a network is safe, don’t connect.
- Play “hard to get” with strangers.
Once again, your mother was right — “Don’t take anything from a stranger”. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Emails from people or organizations you don’t know deserve special caution, especially if they are offering you something for free. Take a little time and research to make sure that call to action that you have been sent is real. Your Office of IT Services is the best place to ask about any communication you get that seems unusual. They are happy to help!
- Guard your mobile devices.
It’s hard to steal a device or information from a device if you have it with you or have it in a secure location at all times. This is especially important when you travel.
Information in this tip was derived from a number of different sources, but I want to especially acknowledge the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency since their tips served as a basis for ours. You can find their publications at https://www.cisa.gov/publication/national-cybersecurity-awareness-month-publications . Other great places to read more are:
Posted By: IT Services - Bob Landon
