The Internet isn’t a safe place. It’s filled with hackers, spammers, scammers, and more. As part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, StopThinkConnect.org wants everyone to be aware of the dangers out “in the wild.” We can all use good Internet safety tips.
This infographic gives Internet safety tips and also shows that 91% of data breaches in the business world stem from an employee clicking a link they shouldn’t have. Remember Target? Their security was adequate—until a chain of events ended with disastrous consequences for millions of people. The first event in the chain took place when an employee in a small business Target dealt with clicked a link in an email. The link loaded malware onto the computer, which eventually infiltrated Target’s systems.
Another sobering statistic is which businesses have been affected already. The list includes not only retailers, but also banks, healthcare, transportation, and utility companies. Most of the time, connecting to the Internet is so seamless we forget it’s happening. Even our own homes are a threat to Internet safety, partially because utility companies have been installing smart meters for years. According to Lockheed Martin, who manufactures everything from rockets and planes to smart energy solutions, there will be 440 million new hackable points on the grid by the end of this year.
Obviously, we can’t control the technology being installed by the companies we deal with, but we can each do our part to ensure we’re not the one who lets in a hacker and impacts millions of others. Here are three quick Internet safety tips to avoid problems in today’s connected world.
Keep a clean machine
Keeping software current is one of the best ways to ensure you’re not vulnerable to the latest malware. This doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy the latest whiz-bang version every year. It does mean if a company issues a security update, it’s a really good idea to install it.
Connect with care
Be aware of which wifi hotspots you’re connecting to and the types of transactions you’re performing. Also, note that fraudulent texting and voicemails are becoming more common. Apply the same rule with a text or voicemail as with email—when in doubt, don’t respond.
Protect your personal information
Think twice the next time an app asks to access your personal information. I’ve not installed apps because I thought they wanted far more information than they needed. And also, protect your phone number as well as those of your friends and family.
This safety all comes down to three little Internet safety tips. Stop. Think. Connect.
Thanks Terry for the reminder to take care on the internet.
Nice reminder tips, Terry, especially right before the holiday shopping season when it is so easy to get distracted by scams.
Thanks Kay. It seems like just when the weather is cooling down, the scams are heating up. There’s a lot going on between now and the end of the year for scammers. No shortage of material there!