Security – Safety is not a point in time but a journey

The holiday season is here and we need to prepare so that we are not vulnerable to attacks during busiest time of the year, the holidays. We all like to take advantage of some of the great deals online but if your device is connected to the internet, including mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, you need to be protected. Scammers and cybercriminals not only target large enterprises but also target the individual shopper. Staying alert and aware of what comes through email is one of the most important security rules. Small and large enterprises spend a large amount of money on protecting their networks, even in your home a simple firewall protects you from cybercriminals but all the protection that most devices give you is for external attacks and not for attacks that get initiated from inside your network.

Here are a few tips:

1. Be aware of emails about problems with your credit cards or bank accounts or the status of online order. If you do not recognize them do not click on them, simply call your financial institution at the number on the back of your card or at a number from the official website.
2. Do not be too quick to click on that promotion that seems too good to be true. Clicking the link can lead to unwanted software being installed on your computer.
3. Keep antivirus and spyware up to date on all your devices. Ensure that they get updates constantly from the vendors.
4. Passwords: We all have too many passwords on our life but avoid using the same password, weak phrases or personal information like birthdays, anniversaries, kids’ names, instead think that cybercriminals are sophisticated and can figure them out easily. Be two steps ahead and create strong password for all your online portals.
5. Safeguard your personal information: When shopping online, first make sure that you are buying from a secure site. At the point of checkout make sure that the website address you see on your browser starts with https:// . At checkout when entering your personal information make sure that you only provide information related to your purchase and if possible always use payment methods that protect you as a consumer like credit cards.

Enjoy your holidays.