Member only contentCyber Security Awareness
Cyber security is of concern to consumers, businesses and governmental entities as online attacks have grown in sophistication, persistence, and severity.
Phishing scams are a popular tactic for cybercriminals. Phishing is the attempt to acquire sensitive information by masquerading as a trustworthy entity, usually by e-mail. 86% of people said they may have experienced a phishing incident.
Overconfidence in connected devices is making consumers more vulnerable. 20% of connected home device users don’t have any protective measures in place.
There are steps that the average person, businesses and governmental entities can take to protect themselves from cyber-attacks.
Tips for Businesses, Consumers and Governmental Entities
Businesses and governmental entities should share the following cyber security tips with their employees:
Make your passwords complex. Use a combination of numbers, symbols, and letters – both uppercase and lowercase.
- Change your passwords regularly (every 45 to 90 days).
- Do not give any of your usernames, passwords, or other computer/website access codes to anyone.
- Do not open emails, links, or attachments from strangers.
- Do not install or connect any personal software or hardware to your organization’s network without permission from your IT department.
- Make electronic and physical back-ups or copies of all your important work.
- Report all suspicious or unusual problems
Tips for Leadership and IT Professionals
- Implement “Defense-in-Depth”: a layered defense strategy includes technical, organizational, and operational controls.
- Establish clear policies and procedures for employee use of your organization’s information technologies.
- Implement Technical Defenses: firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and Internet content filtering.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has the following resources available to businesses, consumers and governmental entities:
https://www.dhs.gov/publication/stopthinkconnect-industry-resources
https://www.dhs.gov/publication/stopthinkconnect-small-business-resources
Other cyber security resources are available at:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/guide-to-internet-security/index.htm
