Although we push cybersecurity and cyber-awareness all year round, the month of October is specially dedicated to improving and educating ourselves about online security awareness. The winter is known for being a lucrative time for bad actors, both because the cold weather pushes us inside and largely due to the holiday season.
When we’re frantically finding gifts for all of our loved ones, planning parties with the perfect guest list and food, or just shopping for decor to make your home or office feel more festive, we can get swept up and forget to practice our online safety as carefully as we usually do!
That’s just one more reason why Cybersecurity Awareness Month is so important.
What Can You Get Out of Cybersecurity Awareness Month?
October is a dedicated time to remind yourself, and others in your workplace, about the importance of cybersecurity whilst promoting good cybersecurity practices at work and home. Cybersecurity Awareness Month reminds everyone that they have a role to play in protecting themselves and their data from cyber threats!
We rely on technology more than ever before; we use it to work, learn, communicate, and shop. This means that our personal and financial information is more vulnerable to cyberattacks than ever before. Despite this, many people are not aware of the latest cybersecurity threats or how to protect themselves; thus this month provides an opportunity to educate the public about these important topics, while simultaneously empowering them to take charge of their cybersecurity all year round.
Just like our cyber-defenses, threat actors are also on the constant lookout for new methods of attacking individuals and businesses alike. They use sophisticated phishing scams, malware, and other complex social engineering scams meant to steal data, disrupt operations, and extort money.
Protecting Yourself from Scams
Cybersecurity is not just the responsibility of IT departments or businesses. Everyone has a role to play in protecting themselves and their data!
- Create strong passwords and use multi-factor authentication
- Keep software up to date
- Be careful about what links you click on and what attachments you open
- Stay vigilant of social engineering scams
- Back up your data regularly, and test backups to make sure they’re ready when you need them
Perhaps the most effective way to foster security awareness — not only your own, but your coworkers’ too — all year round is to help encourage a culture of cybersecurity in your organization! The better that everyone understands their role in safeguarding sensitive data, the more resilient you all become against online threats, the smaller your overall risk of cyberattacks.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an important initiative that helps to make the digital world safer for everyone!
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