With stories of ransomware hitting cities, hospitals, and schools, along with news of data theft and corporate espionage, you’re probably wondering: How do I avoid a similar fate?
Well, here’s some good news: Keeping your cyber environment safe is easier than you think.
Here are a 7 ways to stay save in today’s cyber environment:
Take Your time
People who try to get your information want you to hurry up. Their goal is to rush you into making the wrong decision in order to obtain the information they seek.
Read your emails
Look for anomalies. Again, take your time. Cyber criminals bank on the fact that you’re busy, and you’ll just click on the link without reading.
Call for verification
If you receive an unexpected attachment from someone, call that person for verification.
DO NOT email the sender for confirmation.
Contact Your IT Department
If you’re uncertain about an email, then contact your IT department.
Do Not Share Personal Information
While on a phone call, if the caller requests personal information from you (birth date, banking information, social security number, passwords, etc.), STOP! Do not provide that information.
Organizations will never ask for your full social security number or banking information. And, no one EVER needs your password.
The caller may use familiar names to gain your trust. Don’t fall for it! Your information is private.
Use strong passwords
It is best practice to use a passphrase made up of at least 15 alphanumeric and special characters. The longer and more complex you make your password/phrase, the more time it takes to crack.
Here are a few examples of passwords, and how long it takes to crack them:
- Password1234! – .15 seconds
- Joey761998! – Five Days
- IloveOscartheGrouch123! – Five Months
- I l0v3 Osc@r th3 Gr0uch! – 82 Million Years
Be mindful of what you put on the internet
Hackers gather valuable information based on social media posts, pictures, and even reactions to posts.
Everything matters.
Even small details can be used to lull you into a false sense of security. They can also be used to impersonate you.
The Right Support
At Ideal Integrations, we’re here to help you create a more secure network. With our highly trained and experienced team, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your network is being managed, 24/7/365.
And, our cyber security team, Blue Bastion, will keep your applications, data, and entire cyber environment safe with the most up-to-date, high-powered security management platforms. Even if you’re already an Ideal Integrations customer, be sure to ask our team members how Blue Bastion can help you!
Request a consultation today by completing the form below, or by calling (412) 349-6680.I