“[The] cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation.”
–President Barack Obama
The fact of the matter is that we are now more connected to technology than ever before. This is not a single generational issue either. According to DHS, as of April 2012, 53% of Americans age 65 and older use the Internet or email. While the Internet brings many conveniences that are hard to live without, it also comes with an increased risk. Cybercriminals are using very sophisticated techniques to appear legitimate. I’ve posted in the past on cyber scams that use social-engineering ploys to lure the unsuspecting into revealing passwords and even access to their personal computers.
Email is one of the ways cyber criminals target victims. Simplicity and cost-effectiveness are the reasons cyber criminals use this medium. More than 1 in 20 will click on an embedded link within an email message. Mass emails can be sent with a click of a button that look very legitimate; they pose as friends or family members, banks, charities, mortgage vendors, healthcare and low-cost prescription providers, and even the IRS to steal information in order to conduct identity theft. These email scams, or more commonly referred to as phishing schemes, are linked to credit card fraud and more.
As a part of this month’s initiative to bring a heightened awareness to cybersecurity, experts recommend this month as a reminder to change your passwords. Following the tips below can help you make safer and smarter decisions online:
- Passwords should be kept secret – that means you only!
- Password complexity is important (i.e., upper and lower case letter, numbers, and special characters) however, length is even more important – strong passwords have a minimum of eight characters or more.
- Some Websites allow you to turn on Two-factor password protection. Although, it takes a little more to log into a site, it adds an additional layer of protection.
- Limit your personal information on social media site. If your pet’s name is Toto, and you have lots of pictures of Toto online, it may not be the best secret question to use.
- Most reputable businesses (i.e., banks, credit card companies) will not ask you to verify your information via email. Before you reveal anything, call your bank or credit card company from the number on the back of your card to verify your information.
Some other tips to avoid in email:
- Avoid clicking on links, or responding to email messages from unknown senders.
- If you don’t know the sender delete the email – don’t even open it. I would rather get a call from a friend/ co-worker that asks me if I got the email, and have them resend it. Be sure to ask them what email address it would be coming from so that you can recognize it.
- If you get an attachment in an email, scan it with Anti-virus software first. Don’t just launch it from the email. Some of the worst spyware – malware, may load even though it appears to do nothing when you click to open it.
Tips for your computer:
- The term, “Hardening your system” usually refers to updating your computer with the latest software patches. Be sure to turn on Windows Automatic Updates to automatically install updates.
- Passwords are just as important on your personal computer at home as the portable device you may carry.
Be safe – change your passwords often!
Technically Simplified 