Cybersecurity

  • Cybercrime is exploding, driven by ease of spreading malware across the internet
    • Once criminals have designed a new attack they can be spread globally in a matter of days
  • Phishing Emails: Over 90% of cyberattacks start with a phishing email, so proper training on identifying phishing emails vs. legitimate emails is critically important
  • Passwords: Many successful attacks start with compromised passwords
    • Always use different passwords for each account, so that the theft of one password will not allow a criminal to login to multiple accounts
    • Use a password manager to make it easier to manage different passwords (Dashlane, LastPass, etc.)
  • Dual Factor: for highly sensitive accounts (bank accounts, stock accounts, etc.), always use dual factor login (i.e., have code texted to your phone)
    • That way, even if criminals have your password, they cannot login without your mobile phone
    • Also, protect your mobile phone number from “SIM jacking” by putting a PIN on it
  • Ransomware: is exploding, so if you get infected, it’s important to have a secure online backup (dropbox, icloud, etc.) so you can restore your data unharmed
  • Antivirus: keep your antivirus software up to date and running in the background
  • Education: since threats are continually evolving, it’s important to keep up to date on latest threats and how to avoid becoming a victim