Stay safe this festive season with TSC’s top 10 cyber security tips: protect your data, devices, and peace of mind from holiday hackers.
The festive season is a time for giving, connecting, and celebrating ... but it’s also a prime time for cybercriminals to strike. TSC has compiled ten essential cyber safety tips to protect you and your data this holiday season.
1. Stay safe on social media
Limit what you publish on social media and be aware of what access connected apps have to your personal information.
Regularly review your privacy and security settings and use multi-factor authentication if available.
2. Be wary of public WiFi
Check the network name before connecting and confirm it is secure with the vendor. Do not ask your device to remember or auto-connect to public networks. Never access sensitive data and avoid entering personal credentials.
3. Spot phishing scams
Do not download documents or click links in unexpected or suspicious emails.They could contain malware. Phishing emails may also have a sense of urgency, contain links or attachments and have spelling errors.
4. Protect against malware
Keep all your devices and anti-virus software updated with the latest versions. Run system scans at least once a month to check for any threats.
5. Use strong passwords
Passwords should be made of three separate words that are not linked to each other but are memorable to you. They should also use a mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters.
6. Classify information
Protect sensitive and confidential information by assigning it the correct classification. This will indicate how to handle, share, store, and dispose of it.
7. Keep a clear desk and clear screen
Work with a clear desk and lock away any valuables and confidential or sensitive documents. Always lock your screen when you step away from your work station by using ‘Ctrl+Alt+Del’ and ‘lock’.
8. Guard against shoulder surfers
Be aware of who may be looking over your shoulder or listening in when you work on or discuss confidential information.
9. Secure mobile devices
When mobile devices are not in use, make sure you lock the screen and use a strong password. Install a tracking device and data-wiping software too.
10. Back up your devices
For personal devices, use a secure network to back up your data to an external hard drive or cloud-based storage.
Be aware. Be skilled. Be alert. Be savvy.
