'Tis the Season to Practice Cyber Safety

Tis the Season to Be Jolly…and Safe Online

It's the most wonderful time of the year! A time for giving, spending time with loved ones, and spreading cheer. But it's also a time when cyber criminals are out in full force, looking to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers. That's why it's more important than ever to practice cyber safety during the holiday season.

Here are a few tips to help you stay safe online this holiday season:

Use strong passwords and keep them secret

One of the most important things you can do to protect your online accounts is to use strong passwords. A strong password is at least 12 characters long and contains a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Don't use the same password for multiple accounts, and never share your passwords with anyone.

Here is a more detailed explanation of why strong passwords are important:

Strong passwords make it difficult for hackers to guess or crack.
Using different passwords for each account makes it less likely that a hacker will be able to access all of your accounts if one is compromised.
Protecting your passwords and keeping them secret helps you maintain control of your online activity.

Be careful about what you click on

Phishing scams are a common way for cyber criminals to trick people into giving up their personal information. These scams often come in the form of emails or text messages that appear to be from legitimate businesses or organizations. They may contain links to websites that look like the real thing, but are actually designed to steal your login credentials or other personal information. Always hover over links before clicking on them to verify that they are taking you to the correct website.

Here are some additional tips to help you avoid phishing scams:

Never click on links in emails or text messages from people you don't know.
Be wary of emails or text messages that contain misspellings or grammatical errors.
If you're not sure whether an email or text message is legitimate, contact the sender directly.

Use caution when shopping online

When you're shopping online, it's important to only use secure websites. Look for the lock icon in the address bar of your browser to verify that the website is using SSL encryption. This will help to protect your personal and financial information from being intercepted by hackers.

Here are some additional tips for safe online shopping:

Only shop on websites that you trust.
Use a credit card when shopping online, as it offers more protection than a debit card.
Be aware of the signs of a fraudulent website, such as misspellings, grammatical errors, and low-quality design.
Never provide your personal or financial information on a website that you don't trust.

Keep your software up to date

Software updates often include security patches that can help to protect your computer from malware and other threats. Make sure to install software updates as soon as they become available.

Here are some additional tips for keeping your software up to date:

Enable automatic updates for your operating system and software.
Check for software updates regularly, even if you have automatic updates enabled.
Only download software from reputable sources.
Be wary of software that is offered for free, as it may contain malware.

Back up your data

Backing up your data regularly can help to protect you from data loss in the event of a cyber attack or other disaster. There are a number of different ways to back up your data, such as using an external hard drive, a cloud backup service, or a combination of both. Choose a backup method that works best for you and make sure to back up your data regularly.

Here are some additional tips for backing up your data:

Choose a backup method that is secure and reliable.
Back up your data regularly, even if you don't think you need to.
Keep your backups in a safe place, such as an offsite location.
Test your backups regularly to make sure that they are working properly.

Be aware of the latest cyber threats

Cyber criminals are constantly developing new ways to attack computers and steal personal information. It's important to stay aware of the latest cyber threats so that you can take steps to protect yourself. You can find information about the latest cyber threats from a variety of sources, such as the FBI website, the Department of Homeland Security website, and security blogs.

Here are some additional tips for staying aware of the latest cyber threats:

Subscribe to security blogs and newsletters.
Follow security experts on social media.
Attend security conferences and webinars.
Read about the latest cyber threats in the news.

Report any suspicious activity

If you suspect that you have been the victim of a cyber attack, or if you see anything suspicious online, report it to the appropriate authorities. You can report cyber crimes to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or to your local law enforcement agency.

Here are some additional tips for reporting suspicious activity:

Gather as much information as possible about the incident, such as the date, time, and details of the attack.
Report the incident to the appropriate authorities as soon as possible.
Cooperate with the investigation and provide any information that you can.

By following these tips, you can help to protect yourself from cyber threats and keep your personal information safe during the holiday season.