Cybersecurity – Keeping Your Family Safe

Since 2004 the President of the United States has declared October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. “Cyberattacks affect our day-to-day lives, our economy, and our national security.  By destroying, corrupting, or stealing information from our computer systems and networks, they can impact electric grids and fuel pipelines, hospitals and police departments, businesses and schools, and many other critical services that Americans trust and rely on every day.  That is why my Administration started working immediately to shield our country and improve our defenses against cyberattacks.” – President Biden (10/30/2022)

In an article, “Worries about life in 2025” written by Janna Anderson, Lee Rainie, and Emily Vogels they quote William L. Schrader, an internet pioneer, mentor, adviser and consultant best known as founder and CEO of PSINet, predicted, “Privacy will be lost forever. The internet does not sleep and does not forget. People who control these firms have inordinate power now and into the future. They are quite capable of being shallow and selling out to the U.S. government, or any government. So, they will. The poor people and those who are cognitively limited will always be at a disadvantage. However, they won’t be the primary targets for the theft and abuse by governments. Technology will be a mixed blessing in the future. Reread ‘NineteenEighty–four.’”

Cybersecurity and privacy need to be something that each individual is conscience of and working to protect. The United States Governments Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has the theme for 2022 as “See Yourself in Cyber”. They give 4 things you can do

• Think Before you Click: Recognize and Report Phishing:  If a link looks a little off, think before you click. It could be an attempt to get sensitive information or install malware. 
• Update Your Software: Don’t delay — If you see a software update notification, act promptly. Better yet, turn on automatic updates.
• Use Strong Passwords: Use passwords that are long, unique, and randomly generated. Use password managers to generate and remember different, complex passwords for each of your accounts. A password manager will encrypt passwords securing them for you!
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication: You need more than a password to protect your online accounts, and enabling MFA makes you significantly less likely to get hacked.

They continue to give some specifics that you can do to protect yourself and your digital home.

• Start with your wireless network. Secure your Wi-Fi network. Your home’s wireless router is the primary entrance for cybercriminals to access all your connected devices. Secure Wi-Fi and digital devices by changing the default password and username. Check your internet provider’s or router manufacturer’s wireless security options. Your internet service provider and router manufacturer may provide information or resources to assist in securing your wireless network.
• Keep tabs on your apps. Most connected appliances, toys, and devices are supported by a mobile application. Apps have the ability to gather your personal information while also putting your identity and privacy at risk. Be aware of downloading new, unfamiliar apps or giving default permissions. Check your app permissions and use the “rule of least privilege” to delete apps you no longer need or use.
• Never click and tell. Disable location services that allow anyone to see where you are, and where you are not, at any given time. Limit what information you share on social media from home—from personal addresses to where you like to grab a coffee. Keep Social Security numbers, account numbers, usernames and passwords private, as well as specific information about yourself, such as your full name, address, birthday, and vacation plans.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). to ensure that you are the only person who has access to your account. Use MFA for email, banking, social media, and any other service that requires logging in. If MFA is an option, 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 your key ring.
• If you connect it, you must protect it. Whether it is your computer, smartphone, gaming device, or other network devices, the best defense is to stay on top of things by updating to the latest security software, web browser, and operating systems. If you have the option to enable automatic updates to defend against the latest risks, turn it on. And, if you are connecting something to your device, such as a universal serial bus (USB) for an external hard drive, make sure your device’s security software scans for viruses and malware. Finally, protect your device with antivirus software, and be sure to periodically back up any data that cannot be recreated, such as photos or personal documents.

Everyone is online and using social media, make sure you and your family follow the following Cybersecurity basics for Social Media that are suggested by the CISA.

• Connect only with people you trust. While some social networks might seem safer for connecting because of the limited personal information shared within them, keep your connections to people you know and trust. If communication from a post seems strange or odd, delete it.
• Speak up if you’re being cyberbullied online. Report any and all instances of cyberbullying you see or experience to the appropriate social platform.
• Report suspicious or harassing activity. Work with your social media platform to report and possibly block harassing users. Report an incident if you have been a victim of cybercrime. Local and national authorities are ready to help you.

Additional Reading

Sources

• https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-awareness-month
• https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/09/30/a-cybersecurity-awareness-month-2022/
• https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/02/18/worries-about-life-in-2025/