The month of October is associated with many things, including various global and national celebrations. While people across the world are thinking up costumes for the new normal parties that will be happening in the run-up to the spookiest day of the year- Halloween, there is one more thing this month is about. A subject that is often overlooked and can be scarier and ghastly than a Freddy Kruger costume- cybersecurity.
Think it is an exaggeration? Think again. With technology being an integral part of our everyday lives and many things transitioning from the analog to digital space, it is even more crucial to secure our digital lives from constantly evolving cyber-threats. Look at it this way- for cybercriminals, everyone is a potential target: tech CEO, employees, celebrities, government officials, or the public in general.
The positive note here is the fact the governments and their agencies are well aware of the cyber threats, and in order to educate their citizens, they raise awareness using various campaigns. October is officially chosen as the designated European Cyber Security Month and the Cyber Security Awareness Month in the United States and Canada.
With the internet-enabled devices steadily becoming more integrated into our lives with each passing day, we have become connected more than ever before. We use voice assistants to help manage our everyday activities; smartphones are connected to our security cameras and hi-tech doorbells, and the household appliances too. Almost everything is available at the tap of a finger on our smartphones.
Unfortunately, these marvels of technology also bring in a plethora of potential risks for cyberattacks. But being aware of home these devices impact life and the risks they carry allows us to tackle them responsible and mitigate the risks. Also, the fact that the current pandemic has changed the way the world works, the transition of doing almost everything from home is noteworthy. The transition, too, introduces its own risks that people need to be aware of.
By raising collective awareness of these vulnerabilities and educating users about cybersecurity services, initiatives like the European Cyber Security Month and the Cyber Security Awareness Month aim to ensure that every individual does their part and contributes toward cybersecurity and safety. When every user is responsible and does their part, there will be an increase in cybersecurity, and the risk of getting cyber-infected will be reduced.
Here are some practices to step up your online safety:-
Increase in online privacy: Protect your accounts by implementing multi-factor authentication and using stronger passwords. Also, one should never share their banking information or make online transactions when connected to an unsecured public network.
Stay safe while working: While working remotely, one needs to be more vigilant about phishing scams and online fraud. Every individual should treat their business and personal information with the same care and avoid sharing it over unsecured networks.
Use social media responsibly: Social media is a great way to connect with friends and family, no doubt, but it also lets scammers and cybercriminals make you a potential target. Never accept friend requests from people you don’t trust, avoid clicking links in messages from strangers, and avoid posting personal information online.
Remember, there is no “delete” button when it comes to staying cyber safe.