In today’s digital age, it is crucial to stay informed about how to safeguard our online presence. With daily scams and attempts to gain access to our information, it is understandable that is scary.
Recently I had the opportunity to attend a cyber security conference, and I wanted to share what I learned and ways you can protect yourself.
Below are the biggest takeaways from the conference:
- Hackers are not individuals sitting in their parent’s basement trying to attack computers for fun. Cyber security is a billion-dollar industry and growing. There are large organizations with hacking “departments,” negotiating departments, and ransom collection departments.
- Your email is the gateway for scammers to gain your information. If your email is hacked, they can then access information you receive from your bank, credit card company, etc. and get into those accounts.
- Always use unique and strong passwords. Even better, enable two-factor authentication or facial recognition.
- Be consistent and disciplined when using your computer or phone.
- Always think and pause before you respond to an email or click on a link. For example, a current scam is a text message to renew your turnpike EZ Pass. Before responding, ask yourself, “Do I even have an EZ Pass account?” and if so, “Do these accounts actually expire?”
By incorporating these practices into your daily online activities, you can significantly reduce the risk of cyber threats. Staying vigilant and proactive about cyber security is essential in protecting your personal and financial information.