Page 85 - Cyber Defense eMagazine forJune 2021

Why We Care About Cybersecurity Hygiene

By James Opiyo, Senior Consultant Security Strategy, Kinetic By Windstream

Maintaining good cybersecurity hygiene habits is just as important as maintaining good personal hygiene
habits. We must maintain high cybersecurity standards to protect our digital health from some common
cyber threats.

Common Threats to Our Digital Health
• Malicious software (malware) designed to steal information and/or cause damage to our connected
devices.
• Viruses that infect connected devices and then spread across networks while giving cybercriminals
access to those devices.
• Ransomware malware that encrypts files on a connected device and prevents an authorized user
from accessing the affected files until a ransom is paid.
• Phishing scams where cybercriminals attempt to steal sensitive data (SSN, Credit Card numbers,
etc.) using deceptive electronic messages via email, text messages, pop-up windows, etc. Fraudsters
use these deceptive electronic messages and fake websites to lure users to disclose sensitive
information. They may, for example, send a link masked to look like your bank’s legitimate web
address and ask you to click on it and log in to your bank account. This will give them access to your

Cyber Defense eMagazine – June 2021 Edition 85
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