Tips for Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which is the perfect opportunity for consumers to brush up on everyday cybersecurity practices that can help protect them from scams, malware, device failure, and other common issues. Over time, our digital spaces can become cluttered with out-of-place and unnecessary data. We hope consumers take time this month to clean-up and organize their digital files. Here are some simple practices consumers can add to their everyday cybersecurity routines:

· Back up data: Important digital files like work, photos, personal documents, and receipts should be backed up on an external storage device or with a cloud storage service. This protects these files in case the original device fails or is compromised by malware. Create a regular backup routine for extra security.

· Delete sensitive data: Consumers should regularly review their saved files to identify unneeded sensitive documents (for example, old tax paperwork) and fully delete them from their devices to prevent viruses or malware from gaining access to them. For the best protection against data theft, sensitive files should also be removed from back-up storage if they are no longer needed.

· Avoid sending sensitive data in emails, texts, or direct messages: Even if it is sent to a trusted source like a friend or family member, sensitive data (like personally identifiable information or an account password) could later be exposed if the sender’s or recipient’s device or account is accessed by a bad actor. These are not secure methods for providing sensitive data.

· Be careful with physical storage: Physical storage devices like USB ‘thumb drives’ are a convenient way to share files, but they can also spread viruses and malware. These devices should only be plugged into a computer if the user knows what is on it and where it came from.