Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2024: Tips to Stay Safe Online
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an international initiative to educate everyone – individuals and businesses alike – about online safety.
The theme of this year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month is “Secure Our World.” Even amidst large-scale data breaches and cyberattacks, this initiative reminds everyone that there are simple, effective ways to keep yourself safe online, protect your personal data, and ultimately help secure our world.
At the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Thursday, Oct. 10, Amber Wallace, Security Manager in the Department of Technology and Innovation, accepted a proclamation for Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Johnson County emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity education and awareness for all in the community.
View important cybersecurity safety tips below, and find more online safety information through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency and National Cybersecurity Alliance.
Cybersecurity Safety Tips
There are simple actions we can take every day to protect ourselves, our families, and businesses from online threats. Cybersecurity Awareness Month focuses on the top four ways to stay safe online.
Data is from the National Cybersecurity Alliance’s 2023 Oh Behave! Report.
1. Use Strong Passwords
Fast Fact: Only 38% of people use unique passwords for all their accounts.
Strong passwords should be unique – passwords like “12345” or “password” just aren’t going to cut it. Without a strong password, hackers can easily access your accounts, especially if you use the same password for multiple accounts.
Make your passwords:
- Long: Use at least 16 characters if possible.
- Random: Mix cases, numbers, and symbols, or combine unrelated words.
- Unique: Use a different strong password for each account.
2. Use Multifactor Authentication
Fast Fact: 79% of respondents were familiar with multifactor authentication.
Multi-factor authentication makes your accounts safer, providing extra security by making you confirm your identity through a second authentication – such as a code sent to your phone or an authenticator app.
Be sure to turn on multi-factor authentication for each of your accounts. Go to the account’s settings, look for and turn on MFA, and select which MFA method to use from the options provided.
3. Recognize Phishing
Fast Fact: 69% of people express confidence in their ability to identify phishing attempts.
Don’t take the bait: Phishing can be costly. By opening harmful links or attachments, you’re giving cybercriminals the opportunity to hack your device.
The “bait” is meant to deceive, as it may look trustworthy. But there are some phishing signs to look for:
- Urgent or emotionally appealing language
- Request for personal or financial information
- Untrusted or incorrect email addresses and links
Suspect phishing? Report the message, or simply delete it.
4. Update Software
Fast Fact: Only 36% of people always install software updates when they become available.
It’s easy to put off updates to your software. But resist the urge to hit “remind me later,” as many of these updates are created to address security risks.
To ensure your safety online, install software updates as soon as possible. Better yet, turn on automatic updates so they install as soon as they’re available.