In today’s increasingly online world, cybersecurity is more crucial than ever. From online banking and shopping to social media and email, much of our lives are spent online. But with the convenience of the internet comes the ever-present threat of cybercrime.
Each year, cybercriminals become more sophisticated, developing new tactics to exploit weaknesses and gain access to our personal and financial information. The cost of cybercrime is staggering with it expected to reach more than $1.2 trillion annually by the end of this year, according to a report from Cyber Defense Magazine.
With cyber threats constantly evolving, it’s essential to stay informed, take proactive steps, and protect your devices to secure your online presence. This is important to do year-round but especially in October as this month is Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a nationwide effort to highlight the importance of digital security and empower individuals to take control of their online safety. It’s the perfect time to review your online habits and strengthen your defenses against a growing range of cyber threats from identity theft to phishing scams. By understanding the risks and implementing best practices, you can better protect yourself and your personal data from falling into the wrong hands.
Cybersecurity expert Michael Scheumack, IDIQ chief innovation officer, said Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an opportunity to strengthen your online identity.
“Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a chance to take a fresh look at how you safeguard your personal information and adopt practices that keep your digital life secure,” he said.
What Personal Data is at Risk to Cybersecurity Threats?
Cybersecurity threats put everything at risk, including your personal identity information, bank accounts, sensitive work data, health-related data, and more.
Here are 4 personal cybersecurity best practices you can use to better protect your data:
1. Make Password Best Practices a Habit
Weak passwords are one of the easiest ways for hackers to access your accounts. Using a unique and strong password for all of your online accounts is an easy way to help make sure a breach of one service doesn’t lead to cybercriminals accessing more of your online accounts. Instead of reusing a password, or a series of passwords, rely on a password manager to create and store unique passwords, as well as autofill your login information.
Another important password best practice is to always enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) when possible. Multi-factor authentication, also known as two-factor authentication (2FA), is a security method that requires users to provide more than one form of identification to access an account or system. It's a simple yet effective way to add an extra layer of security to your accounts and protect against unauthorized access.
💡Related: What Are the Benefits of a Password Manager?
2. Keep Your OS and Software(s) Updated.
Ransomware attacks are a major threat to both businesses and consumers. One of the most important cybersecurity tips to mitigate ransomware is patching outdated software, both operating systems and applications. This helps remove critical vulnerabilities that hackers use to access your devices. An easy way to keep updated is by turning on automatic system updates for your device.
💡Related: How Important Are Phone Software Updates?
3. Beware of Phishing Scams
Phishing scams remain one of the most common and effective tactics cybercriminals use to steal sensitive information. Phishing refers to fraudulent attempts to obtain personal information through deceptive emails, texts, or websites. Cybercriminals design these messages to look like they’re from legitimate sources, tricking individuals into sharing sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers.
There are various forms of phishing, including:
- Email phishing: This is the most common type, where scammers send fraudulent emails designed to look like they come from trusted entities like banks, social media platforms, or government agencies.
- Spear phishing: This is a more targeted version where attackers customize their emails to specific individuals, often based on publicly available information, to make the attack more convincing. ⭐️ Learn more about spear phishing.
- Smishing: This involves sending phishing messages via SMS or text messages, tricking victims into clicking malicious links, or providing sensitive information.
Cybercriminals can use AI to craft more sophisticated and personalized phishing messages, making AI scams increasingly difficult to detect. For instance, AI-generated deepfake audio or video can be used in phishing scams to impersonate a trusted source, whether it is a family member, coworker, or any other person someone is likely to trust.
Scheumack said, “AI is allowing scammers to create messages that feel highly personal and convincing. It’s more important than ever to verify sources and think twice before clicking links or sharing sensitive information.”
Stay cautious when clicking links or opening attachments in unexpected messages. Antivirus software adds another layer of protection by detecting and blocking phishing attempts before they reach you.
💡Related: What Happens if You Open a Spam Email on Your Phone?
4. Identity Theft & Credit Report Monitoring.
Regularly monitoring your identity and credit reports can help you spot unusual activity and take action as soon as possible. To take a more active hand in watching for fraud, use an identity theft and credit monitoring service that alerts you when unusual activity is detected.
A service that actively monitors your identity and scans the dark web for your personal information is essential. You can receive alerts if your personal information is vulnerable as well as identity theft insurance and restoration assistance if you do become a victim of identity theft. IdentityIQ plans include these features and more to offer robust protection.
💡Related: Criminal Identity Theft: What Is It & How Does It Work?
Bottom Line for Cybersecurity Awareness Month
As cybercriminals become more sophisticated, especially with the integration of AI, it’s more important than ever to remain vigilant. Protecting your personal data means using strong, unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, watching out for phishing scams, and keeping your software up to date.
With an IdentityIQ membership, you get best-rated comprehensive identity theft protection and credit monitoring, along with powerful tools to protect your devices and online privacy. IdentityIQ offers Bitdefender® Total Security device protection with advanced antivirus, VPN, and password manager features to secure your devices, keep your data safe, and make sure your sensitive information stays private. Get started with IdentityIQ today!
Cybersecurity Awareness Month FAQs
Here are answers to common questions about online safety and Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
1. What is Cybersecurity Awareness Month?
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an annual campaign held every October to raise awareness about the importance of staying safe online and protecting your personal and financial information from cyber threats.
2. Why is Cybersecurity Awareness Month important?
Cybersecurity Awareness Month highlights the importance of protecting your digital identity. It’s a month-long reminder to stay informed and follow online safety best practices to keep your information secure online.
3. How do you stay safe online?
To stay safe online, you should:
- Use unique passwords for every online account and enable multi-factor authentication.
- Avoid suspicious links and attachments from unreliable sources.
- Keep your operating systems and software up to date.
- Regularly monitor your credit and identity for signs of fraud.
4. What should you do if you think your personal information has been compromised?
If you suspect your data has been exposed, enrolling in an industry-leading identity theft protection service such as IdentityIQ is an important first step. IdentityIQ is rated as one of the best identity theft protection services for its real-time fraud alerts from all three major credit bureaus, comprehensive monitoring, identity theft insurance underwritten by AIG, and expert restoration support to help you act quickly and stay protected.
