3 Online Public Safety Tips for National Cyber Security Awareness Month

Written by KOVA Corp

In the current Internet age, information is flowing faster than ever before. While this increased access to information facilitates communication and the ability to stay up to date with world news, it does put users at risk for theft, fraud or other consequences of online activity.  Due to the increasing risk of privacy online, the Department of Homeland Security named October “National Cyber Security Awareness Month” for the first time in 2003. There are a wide variety of safety tips to keep in mind; take a moment to review three important online public security tips that can help you protect your online identity.

1. Set Strong Passwords

Creating complex passwords is one of the first things you can do to protect the information that you have online. From bank account numbers to your home address, a password can stop people from easily accessing this personal information. There is, of course, a fine line to walk between creating a complicated password that others cannot guess and a password that is too complex for you to remember. To solve this problem, create a private, off-line location to keep your passwords. You can write down the entire password or just a small part to help jog your memory at a later time. The most important thing to remember about a password is to not share them with anyone.

2. Update Your Software

No matter what operating system your computer runs on, it most likely prompts you to install updates rather frequently. While it may seem like a pain in the neck at the moment, updates to operating systems typically involve changes that can make it more difficult to access your personal information, track your activity on web browsers or other updates crafted specifically to protect your identity.

3. Be a Good Online Citizen

Have you ever heard of the saying, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?” The same rule applies to online activity! Acting as a community rather than an individual can be beneficial for everyone. If you don’t want your friends posting your personal phone number or vacation plans to be away from home, then don’t post that information about them. Simple status updates on social media can alert hackers of your whereabouts or a change in your routine that can make it easier for them to hack into your information without you noticing. In addition, if you notice strange online activity or see that you have been a victim of cyber crime, report it to the authorities. While you may not recover whatever they’ve stolen from you, you can be sure that they do not continue to do it to others in the future.

When talking about online activity, the name of the game is cautiousness. The Internet makes it easy for people to fake their identities, whereabouts or anything else they need to fabricate in order to get access to you. For this reason, remember not to give out personal information or passwords to anyone. If you are looking for more cyber security tips, contact KOVA today.

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