Cyber Security Awareness Month: Small Changes, Big Impact

Did you know that 95% of successful cyberattacks are caused by human error? That’s right, the biggest threat to your cybersecurity isn’t some shadowy hacker - it's a simple mistake, like clicking a malicious link or using 'password123'.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time to highlight the critical importance of staying secure in our digital world. The theme of this year for Cyber Security Awareness is "Secure Our World". When we hear the word "Cyber Security", the images that come to mind are big monitors, complex coding, green color fonts in black terminals, and of course a hacker with a white mask. So, I was interested in what the latest Llama 3.2 model will imagine when I say the word "Cyber Security". I have attached the image below, Where the Llama 3.2 model imagines a girl working on a multi-monitor setup computer with headsets.

Ok, it's time to come back to reality from imagination. The truth is, even small, everyday actions can have a big impact on your overall security. In this blog, we’ll explore how making a few small tweaks can significantly enhance your cybersecurity, helping you stay safer online without needing to be a tech wizard.

Strengthen Your Passwords

Password hygiene is foundational for cybersecurity. Weak passwords are like low-hanging fruit for hackers, who can use automated tools to crack them within seconds. According to the study conducted by Kaspersky, almost 6 out of 10 passwords can be cracked within 60 minutes with the current GPU (Graphical Processing Units) and cloud services. Using the same password across multiple accounts also increases your risk exponentially.

Small Change: Use a password manager to create strong, unique passwords for every account and activate multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever available.

Big Impact: Even if hackers crack one of your passwords, MFA and strong password practices will make it harder for them to access other sensitive accounts or information.

Be Skeptical of Emails

Phishing remains one of the most effective ways for cybercriminals to steal information or gain access to systems. With the power of Generative Artificial Intelligence, phishing becomes much more dangerous (also known as AI Phishing). According to the study conducted by SoSafe Awareness Platform, around 65% of humans were tricked into revealing personal information in input fields on linked websites by AI-generated emails. Scammers often craft emails that look legitimate but contain harmful links or attachments.

Small Change: Before clicking on a link or downloading an attachment, double-check the sender's email address and look for signs of phishing (such as poor grammar, unusual requests, or unfamiliar URLs).

Big Impact: This small pause can prevent malware infections, data breaches, or financial scams, saving you and your organization from major headaches down the line.

Educate Yourself

Human error remains one of the leading causes of cybersecurity breaches, responsible for a significant portion of successful cyberattacks. As I said before, around 95% of cyber security attacks are caused by human errors. Despite advancements in technology and security measures, many attacks exploit basic mistakes made by individuals often because of lack of awareness or insufficient training. These errors range from clicking on a phishing link in a seemingly innocent email to using weak passwords or accidentally sharing sensitive information with the wrong people.

Small Change: Take advantage of free cybersecurity training resources and share them with your friends or family.

Big Impact: A well-informed user base is far less likely to fall victim to phishing, scams, or other cyber-attacks, creating a stronger first line of defense.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By making a few simple changes, you can drastically reduce your risk of falling victim to cyber threats. October's Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity to assess your current habits and adopt a more security-conscious mindset. These small actions can lead to significant, lasting protection in an increasingly digital world.

Thank you for reading.

Stay safe and secure!

References

[1] https://www.kaspersky.co.uk/blog/password-can-be-hacked-in-one-hour/27738/

[2] https://www.mailgun.com/blog/email/ai-phishing/

[3] https://sosafe-awareness.com/company/press/one-in-five-people-click-on-ai-generated-phishing-emails-sosafe-data-reveals/