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Help Avoid Hacking This Holiday

By Tim Clark, The FactPoint Group, on behalf of Hexis Cyber Solutions

With the holiday season in full swing, and online shopping activity
more popular than ever, it’s important that everyone remain vigilant
about their cyber security habits. Cybersecurity is a shared
responsibility and it’s important that everyone do what they can,
even by taking a few simple steps, to help make the internet (and
your corporate network) safer from cyber threats.

As IT, security or business executives, don’t make the mistake of
thinking that consumer oriented cyber threats as irrelevant to your
enterprise. Your users—employees, customers, partners—also
utilize the Internet for personal reasons, so the same tips and
messages for consumers apply equally to your own eco-system.

A smartphone infected with malware at a consumer website is still infected when it logs onto
your corporate network. Think your bring-your-own-device policy protects you? Think again.
Your users are actively trying to circumvent your BYOD policy because it’s faster and easier for
them to use their software (or device) than yours.

What guidance should you offer your users? Start with these:

1. Set strong passwords: combine numbers, symbols, and letters (uppercase and
lowercase). Don’t share them with anyone.
2. Install updates: keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software
optimized on all your devices: laptops, smartphones, tablets, desktops.
3. Keep it to yourself: limit the personal info you post online and use privacy settings to
avoid sharing information widely. This includes posting anniversary dates, birthdays,
your home address, vacation dates or details, etc.
4. Stranger danger: Don’t open emails, links, or attachments from unknown aliases,
strangers, or if the subject line seems suspicious.
5. Back up: or copy sensitive and critical information and databases. Sync your contacts,
photos, videos and other mobile device data with another device or cloud service
weekly.
6. Make a list and inventory of your most critical equipment, hardware and software.
7. Watch out for prying eyes: when using a public, unsecured wireless connection (coffee
shop wi-fi, airlines, library, hotel), avoid using apps or websites that require you to enter
a password.
8. When in doubt, turn it off: for mobile, switch off your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections
when not in use to help prevent malicious parties from connecting to your device without
your knowledge. A 3G or 4G connection is safer than an unsecured Wi-Fi connection.
9. Lock it up: on mobile, activate key-lock features and/ or use a passcode. If your device
allows for a complex password, take advantage of the feature.

13 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine – December 2014 Edition
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