October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Every week, there’s a new report of a significant cyberattack in the news. Data breaches, business operations shut down due to ransomware attack, phishing scams – cyber threats are everywhere and affecting businesses and individuals alike. Each year, CISA and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) sponsor a national Cybersecurity Awareness month, to raise awareness around cybersecurity.
Here are some key things you can do to protect yourself and Providence:
- Don’t use your Providence email address and password for non-business applications. Using your Providence email address or your Providence password for Amazon, Apple or other personal applications puts Providence at risk.
- Double your login protection. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all accounts and devices to ensure that the only person who has access to your account is you. Use it for email, banking, social media, and any other service that requires logging in. If MFA is an option for any of your accounts (for example, MyChart), enable it by using a trusted mobile device, such as your smartphone, an authenticator app, or a secure token (a small physical device that can hook onto your key ring).
- Make sure you are protected. Whether it’s your personal computer, smartphone, game device, or other network devices, the best defense against viruses and malware is to update to the latest security software, web browser, and operating systems. Sign up for automatic updates if you can and protect your devices with passwords and anti-virus software.
- Play hard to get with strangers. Cyber criminals use phishing tactics, hoping to fool their victims. If you’re unsure who an email is from—even if the details appear accurate—or if the email looks ‘phishy,’ do not respond and do not click on any links or attachments found in that email. When available, use the “report phishing” or “report” option to help your organization or email provider block other suspicious emails before then arrive in your inbox.
- Never click and tell. Limit what information you post on social media—from personal addresses to where you like to grab coffee. These seemingly random details are all criminals need to know to target you, your loved ones, and your physical belongings—online and in the real world. Keep Social Security numbers, account numbers, and passwords private, as well as specific information about yourself, such as your full name, address, birthday, and even vacation plans. Disable location services that allow anyone to see where you are (and where you aren’t) at any given time.
- Stay protected while connected. Before you connect to any public wireless hotspot, like at an airport, hotel, or café, be sure to confirm the name of the network and exact login procedures with appropriate staff to ensure that the network is legitimate. If you do use an unsecured public access point, practice good internet hygiene by avoiding sensitive activities (e.g., banking) that require passwords or credit cards. Your personal hotspot is often a safer alternative to free Wi-Fi. Only use sites that begin with “https://” when online shopping or banking.
More info
Visit the Information Security site for more information on cybersecurity.