Protecting Your Information Online – National Cyber Security Awareness Month

Each October, the United States celebrates National Cyber Security Awareness Month. For 31 days, companies and organizations share tips on safe practices for protecting yourself and your business online – and for good reason.

According to Norton, in 2018 nearly 60 million Americans were impacted by identity theft. This issue is becoming more prevalent for people all around the world as technology use increases and more people have access to smart devices. The problem is increasingly widespread in the United States, which according to Norton is the top country for targeted cyber-attacks.

This isn’t just an issue for individuals. More companies are facing online threats than they have previously, especially with more business being conducted through digital platforms and communication happening online. When individuals face cyber security threats, they risk losing privacy in all aspects of their lives. When businesses face these threats, they risk having insider information leaked, as well as that of their customers and partners.

By bringing more attention to the growing issues of cyber security, people and companies will know how to better protect themselves and keep their information secure. Taking extra precautions is easy if you know how to do it.

5 Tips For Keeping Your Information Secure

• Protect your passwords – Make sure you use unique, strong passwords for all your accounts. You can store them through a secure platform such as LastPass or Keychain.
• Lookout for suspicious emails – If you receive an email that seems out of the ordinary or comes from an unknown or unusual address, don’t click on any of the links. Email scams are high on the list of how hackers access your private information.
• Verify phone numbers and email addresses – If someone contacts you from a company you regularly do business with (shopping, work, etc.) or a private agency, confirm the phone number or email address the message is coming from before providing your information. A quick Google search should come up with the right results. Most companies won’t ask for passwords, credit card number, or other identifying information over the phone or through email.
• Be careful with auto connect and public Wi-Fi – Typically free and unencrypted Wi-Fi networks provided at hotels, restaurants, airports and other areas are not secure. This leaves any personal information you input while connected to those Wi-Fis more vulnerable to attacks. Some of these will automatically connect to your phone when in the area. Make sure to turn this feature off to keep your information as safe as possible.
• Lock your devices – Anytime you leave your phone, tablet, laptop or any other device unattended, make sure you lock it. Have a password on each one so people cannot easily access any information on it. In a hotel room, never leave your devices out for the naked eye to see. Put them in a safe with a strong combination or put them away in your bags.

While these tips may seem self-explanatory, following them will help keep your private information secure online, as well as that of customers and clients on work devices. All it takes is one phishing email for your identity to be in jeopardy.

This is especially true for companies that store private information of clients, customers and employees. Not only do you risk their information being leaked by unsafe online practices, you also risk having private company information being hacked.

These tips, as well as many others, will help protect your and your employees online and keep your private information private.

How We Can Help

In all aspects of the programs we create, WePro Solutions is dedicated to cyber security. When developing websites and apps, one of our priorities is ensuring that everyone who uses our products will have peace of mind knowing their personal information is secure. Whether it’s an ecommerce shop, membership information, company communications, HR files or anything in between, we put numerous safeguards in place to protect you.

In addition to creating secure programs, we can help rework your current software to ensure it’s as safe as possible for your employees and customers. If you have questions about how to step up your cyber security levels, contact us today and let’s chat!