Welcome to Cybersecurity Awareness Month!

What is Cybersecurity Awareness Month you ask?

Our federal government, in particular the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, has designated the month of October to focus on information security.

Why should I care?

Cybersecurity attacks have been increasing yearly. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (run by the FBI) released the following graphic.

Attacks like this can not only cause problems for Huntington University, but also cause you personal loss of both money and time. We should all be “cybersmart” when it comes to protecting our data and privacy.

So… let’s start with a few simple tips from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency:

• Be aware of risk. Be aware of possible risk such as malware viruses, ransomware, and phishing. It’s also important for everyone to be aware of the possible risk and threats that could occur should your systems become affected by any of these threats.
• Use strong passwords. Creating strong passwords is an easy way to improve your cyber security. Try to use different passwords for different accounts. Strong passwords include one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, at least one number and 10 or more characters. Get creative and customize your standard password for different sites, which can prevent cyber criminals from gaining access to these accounts and protect you in the event of a breach. Use a password manager like LastPass or 1Password to generate and remember different, complex passwords for each of your accounts.
• Play hard to get with strangers. Links in emails and online posts are often the way cybercriminals compromise your computer. If you’re unsure who an email is from—even if the details appear accurate—do not respond, and do not click on any links or attachments found in that email. Be cautious of generic greetings such as “Hello Bank Customer,” as these are often signs of phishing attempts. If you are concerned about the legitimacy of an email, call the company directly.
• Think before you act. Be wary of communications that implore you to act immediately. Many phishing emails attempt to create a sense of urgency, causing the recipient to fear their account or information is in jeopardy. If you receive a suspicious email that appears to be from someone you know, reach out to that person directly on a separate secure platform. If the email comes from an organization but still looks “phishy,” reach out to them via customer service to verify the communication.
• Protect your personal information. If people contacting you have key details from your life—your job title, multiple email addresses, full name, and more that you may have published online somewhere—they can attempt a direct spear-phishing attack on you. Cyber criminals can also use social engineering with these details to try to manipulate you into skipping normal security protocols.
• Be wary of hyperlinks. Avoid clicking on hyperlinks in emails and hover over links to verify authenticity. Also ensure that URLs begin with “https.” The “s” indicates encryption is enabled to protect users’ information.
• Double your login protection. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to ensure that the only person who has access to your account is you. Use it for email, banking, social media, and any other service that requires logging in.
• Install and update anti-virus software. Make sure all your computers, Internet-connected devices, phones, and tablets are equipped with regularly updated antivirus software, firewalls, email filters, and anti-spyware.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll go into more detail about some of these things. I hope that you all stay safe and secure!