Three Simple Tips For Protecting Your Digital Life And Getting Cyber Secure (NAPSA)—National Cyber Security Awareness Month—held annually in October—is the ideal time for every family to STop. THINK. CONNECT”. That’s the mantra for this year’s annual campaign designed to remind you about cyber security and encourage vigilance when it comesto the way weact and share our lives online. Computer security company Sophos shares these simple tips for getting protected now and staying secure when online holiday shopping “clicks in.” 1.Goop PassworbDs are the simplest and first line of defense against cybercriminals. Steer clear of using one password for multiple sites or words that can be easily guessed from your online persona. Thanks to Facebook and Twitter, criminals have access to your favorite colors, quotations, movie scripts, pet names and other personal preferences mentioned in social media. To create a secure password, use a long string of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and punctuation, and apply a distinct password for each social mediaor online shopping account. The Sophos “How to Pick a Proper Password”video online provides fun, easy tips for doing this. You may have manyto remember, so to help keep passwords organized, consider using a password manager. 2.BeE #CYBERAWARE and make sure that anyone using a com- puter in your family is aware of the latest seams and tricks the cybercrooks mighttry. Bewareof official-looking but unexpected emails claiming to be from big retailers, shipping com- panies or even local government agencies that ask you to click on links or open attachments. Cybercriminals go “phishing” with crafty emails that contain links to faked (but near-impossible-to-spot) websites designed to capture yourlogin or credit card information. Worse, those fake emails could contain malware and even ransomware, a particularly nasty type of computer threat that locks your preciousfiles and photos until you pay the “ransom”to the “data-nappers.” ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET Your passwordis yourfirst line of defense against hackers. So makesureit gets the attention it deserves. GOOD PASSWORDS BAD PASSWORDS Peer ratCEMIO thueCaaeeee-UlLele eT SERA S0Phos.com/home SOPHOS Be smart about cybersecurity. Security software that includes both antivirus and URL-blocking capabilities can help prevent ransomware. When in doubt, don’t click on links or attachments in unexpected or suspicious emails. Instead, type the public Web address manually into your browser to verify your account status or the notification without touching that email. 3.GET PROTECTED. Ask the top techie in your household to set up security for every computer in your family network. These days, you don’t need to pay a subscription or any dollar amountto get strong, hassle-free protection. Sophos Homeis a free antivirus and URL-blocking product for up to 10 PCs and/or Macs at home that can keep you safe from malicious cyber attackers and can filter out content inappropriate for younger users. It’s simple to download and set up within minutes, and even lets you manage security protection for family and friends across the sofa, across the state or across the country. Finally, remember that we are entering the season for giving. Share these tips with family and friends to help make sure they properly protect their digital data and have a safe, successful, cyber- crime-free shopping season. Go to Sophos for more tips to help families stay safe online.
