Cybersecurity begins with you.

This notion is was at the center of CISA’s 2022 Cybersecurity Awareness Month campaign - See Yourself in Cyber. While this was a couple years ago, it is still important. The campaign reinforces the importance of safe internet competency and offers advice on how to improve yours. Knowing when to connect to Wi-Fi, how to use search engines and other online tips can make all the difference between a safe and stolen identity.

Think Before You Click. Although the “Congratulations! You’ve been selected for a FREE iPad” link sounds exciting, it’s likely to give you free malware instead. Be mindful of links and pop-up ads, especially when navigating sites you don’t typically visit. For a quick check, copy and paste the URL in question into a website safety checker like Google Safe Browsing.

Make sure your software is up-to-date. Rarely is there a convenient time to update software on our cell phones or computers. Such updates are essential to device function and ensure that malware detection softwares are operating properly. Visiting risky websites on out-of-date software increases your risk of stolen data like passwords, PII and more.

Reevaluate your passwords. Using the same password is certainly convenient, but it is far from safe. Hackers can more easily access your e-mail, bank accounts, investment portfolios and other digital accounts when users utilize simple and predictable passwords. Opt for long, random and complex passwords instead.

Learn more about Cybersecurity Awareness Month here: https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-awareness-month