The Top 10 Cyber Security Tips for Your Users

The internet has devolved into a dangerous environment littered with malicious links, Trojans, and viruses. Data breaches are growing more common, and unwary consumers are more susceptible than ever. When a single click may cost hundreds, if not millions, of dollars, customers need action steps to help them stay attentive and secure online. Here are our top ten cyber security recommendations for your users:

1. Clicking without thinking is irresponsible.

Just because you can click does not mean you should. Keep in mind that it might cost you a lot of money. Malicious links may cause harm in a variety of ways, so before clicking, verify the link and confirm it comes from a reputable sender.

2. Implement Two-Factor Authentication

It's crucial to have a secure password, but two-factor, or multi-factor, authentication is even more critical. This approach provides two levels of security protection, so even if a hacker correctly guesses your password, an extra security mechanism is in place to guarantee that your account is not compromised.

3. Beware of Phishing Scams

With over 3 billion bogus emails generated every day, phishing assaults are among the most serious cybersecurity risks because they are so simple to fall for. In a phishing attack, a hacker pretends to be someone the receiver knows to deceive them into clicking on a dangerous link, disclosing sensitive information, or installing software that infects the recipient's machine with a virus. Avoiding emails from unexpected senders, looking for grammatical errors or other discrepancies in the email that appears suspicious, and hovering over any link you get to check the destination are the best ways to avoid phishing scams.

4. Monitor Your Digital Footprint

When you monitor your accounts, you can guarantee that any suspicious behavior is detected. Can you recall all of your internet accounts and what information is saved on them, such as credit card numbers for simpler payments? It's critical to maintain track of your digital footprint, including social media, and to remove accounts you're no longer using, while also ensuring secure passwords are used (that you change regularly).

5. Stay Current with Updates

When security weaknesses are uncovered, software fixes can be deployed. You're not alone if you find these software update messages bothersome. However, when evaluating the benefits of restarting your laptop vs the possibility of malware and other sorts of computer infection, you might consider them the lesser of two evils.

6. Connect Safely

Cyber security pieces of advice on this topic have been disseminated by practically every cyber expert under the sun, but many people still ignore it. You may be tempted to connect your smartphone to an unprotected network, but the risks outweigh the benefits. Connect to private networks only, when necessary, especially when dealing with sensitive information.

7. Protect Your Mobile Device

Security does not stop at your computer. It's also a good idea to get into the habit of safeguarding your presence via your mobile device. Use strong passwords and biometric features, switch off Bluetooth, avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi, and download with caution.

8. Be wary of social engineering.

When hackers are unable to uncover a security flaw, they will resort to alternative methods of attack. Here comes social engineering. This sort of assault focuses on the user's mind rather than the device to get access to systems and information. Cyber thieves come up with inventive ways to deceive consumers, especially using information that is widely available online and on social media.

9. Back Up Your Data

Storage is no longer prohibitively expensive. There is no reason to not keep a backup of vital data. It should be backed up in both a physical place and the cloud. Remember that dangerous threats and hackers do not always aim to steal your data; instead, they may seek to encrypt or wipe it. Back it up to have a complete recovery tool.

10. You Aren't Immune to Everything

"It won't happen to me," or "I don't frequent unsafe websites," are the two most dangerous thoughts you can have. Cybercriminals do not discriminate when it comes to who they target. Be proactive in your approach. With "Ctrl + Z," you can correct certain mistakes, but not all.

Simple cyber security guidelines like these can help you avoid a disaster, but they just scratch the surface of how you can educate and safeguard your people. Cabinet's comprehensive cyber education platform is designed for users of all skill levels, from novice to expert. Please contact us to learn more about how our bespoke solutions can help you safeguard your users.