Why is internet safety so important?
In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic introduced remote work. This gave employees to continue working from home, which is an attractive incentive to many employees for its flexibility. It Is important when using your personal and works computer to ensure that your privacy settings are always on and have the appropriate anti-virus system. Many organizations have taken additional precautions to redesign their security to resolve the evolving cyber threats. It is our job to make sure we are aware of the threats posed on the internet and adapt out cyber-solutions
When one is using their personal computer, it is easy to click on any website or open any e-mail without scanning for threats first. Spam email is something no one can seem to avoid. Hackers will send an email that appears to come from a trusted source, (PayPal, Wells Fargo) and will prompt you to use your log-in credentials to gain access to your account. Identity theft is not the only danger of the internet, other cyber threats include:
- Cyberbullying
- Online predators
- Faulty privacy setting
- Phishing
- Online scams
- Malware
- Inappropriate content
- Bait and switch
To create a cyber-safe household, all family members must play their part. Being aware of these risks is only the first step here are a few tips to increase your cyber-safety.
- Always Review E-Mails Before Clicking Hyper-links: While an email may appear normal and from a trusted site, hackers will often include odd/strange lettering or misspelled words that indicate this is a scam. Immediately mark these as junk
- Remember Your Identity is Important: Kids are especially at risk for identity theft because their identity may be of greater value than an adult’s. Kids will disclose personal information because they feel they are talking to someone they trust and don’t know the importance of keeping their social security number and personal information private.
- Choose a Strong Password: This is going to be your primary defense against hackers so you want to make it as difficult for them to get into your accounts. Never use common phrases, words, or personal information such as names or your phone number.
- Be Careful What You Post: In the excitement to post and share important events in their lives and will share things such as travel itineraries, live footage showing their location. All this could be valuable information for burglars and thieves. Posting inappropriate/personal photos could attract predators and affect future occupational and educational opportunities.
- Shop Safely Online: One of the best ways is to make sure the website you are buying from is running on HTTPS. You can verify the website by double-clicking the beginning of the URL in the address bar, also by confirming you see a padlock by the URL.
- When Using Public Wi-Fi, Go Private: There are several risks to connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, which is why it’s best to always use a VPN (a virtual private network) when using these public connections, or holding off until you get home. The safer the better!
- Install a cybersecurity suite: This will be the best way to actively monitor your devices and their activity.
- Download Cautiously: By downloading everything you can onto your computer seems easy and harmless, there are tons of malware out there that can damage your computer. You may experience excessive/strange ads and pop-up windows, a lack of storage space, and your computer or tablet acting slow.
- Keep a Balance: These days it is easy to turn to our computers, phones, and TV. That’s all there is to do. Relying too much on these technologies can take its toll on our bodies in the long run. Make sure to make time for other things that make you happy as well.
- Be Respectful: Remember permission is always needed before posting a picture or video of someone else online. Make sure it is OK with them and be cautious of what you say about other people publicly.
Did you know that most homeowner’s insurance policies will include or have coverage available to cover cybersecurity attacks/identity fraud?
Check out your current policy and ask your agent if that’s something you’re currently covered for!
Call us for a free quote on all your insurance needs
Reno—775-853-3388 Carson City—775-883-4433
*click picture to enlarge