Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Tips to Stay Safe Online
IT Cybersecurity Team
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an international initiative to educate everyone – individuals and businesses alike – about online safety.
This year’s theme, “Stay Safe Online,” is all about the simple ways to stay safe from online threats. At the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Thursday, Oct. 2, Penny Postoak Ferguson touched on Cybersecurity Awareness Month during her Manager’s Memo, including the online safety tips below.
Thank you to the Johnson County Department of Technology and Innovation's cybersecurity team for their efforts to keep Johnson County cybersecure. You can find more online safety information through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency and National Cybersecurity Alliance.
Cybersecurity Safety Tips
There are simple actions we can take every day to protect ourselves, our families, and businesses from online threats. Cybersecurity Awareness Month focuses on the top four ways to stay safe online:
1. Use Strong Passwords and a Password Manager
Strong passwords should be unique – passwords like “12345” or “password” just aren’t going to cut it. Without a strong password, hackers can easily access your accounts, especially if you use the same password for multiple accounts. Keep your passwords safe by using a Password Manager.
Make your passwords:
- Long: Use at least 14 characters if possible.
- Random: Mix cases, numbers, and symbols, or combine unrelated words.
- Unique: Use a different strong password for each account.
2. Use Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication makes your accounts safer, providing extra security by making you confirm your identity through a second authentication – such as a code sent to your phone or an authenticator app.
Be sure to turn on multi-factor authentication for each of your accounts. Go to the account’s settings, look for and turn on MFA, and select which MFA method to use from the options provided.
3. Recognize Phishing
Don’t take the bait: Phishing can be costly. By opening harmful links or attachments, you’re giving cybercriminals the opportunity to hack your device.
- Be skeptical of unexpected emails, even if they appear to come from someone you know.
- Do not open attachments or click links unless you were specifically expecting them.
- If something feels off, contact the sender using a known phone number. Do not reply to the email, as the account may be compromised.
- If you believe you’ve clicked on something malicious, especially if you entered your password or were prompted for a multi-factor authentication (MFA) token, run an anti-virus scan on your PC/laptop and change your password as soon as possible.
4. Update Software
It’s easy to put off updates to your software. However, resist the urge to select “remind me later,” as many of these updates are created to address security risks.
To ensure your safety online, install software updates as soon as possible. Ensure you turn on automatic updates to install as soon as they’re available.