“Passwords are like underwear: don’t let people see them, change them very often, and you shouldn’t share them with strangers.”
– Chris Pirillo
From our team at sfG, we would like to wish everyone a Happy International Computer Security day for November 30th! Woah, that’s a bit of a mouthful and not the sexiest holiday, but for your business, it could be one of the most important!
Computer Security Day was started in 1988 when the boom of technology and computers was starting to take over. Realistically we know that every day should be a day to remember computer security, but we also know that sometimes things just get forgotten about.
Here are a few things you can do to make sure you are staying safe on this necessary holiday…. And all year round!
Keeping software up to date
We know it sounds like a laborious task, but nowadays keeping your software up to date is easy. It is always good to have the latest security patches and updates so turn on those automatic updates so you don’t even have to think about checking for them. It is also a good idea to set your software to do regular scans to see if it can be updated.
Clickbait/Phishing
Let me guess, the deposed son of the Nigerian King has been in touch via email and he needs a little help with cash? Or you are scrolling through Facebook, see an intriguing article relevant to you, only to find out it has absolutely nothing to do with what you thought and now you’re 15 minutes into an unofficial and irrelevant IQ test based on celebrity knowledge? If either of these scenarios sounds remotely familiar, then you have probably been targeted by a phishing or clickbait scam. Many of these scams eventually urge you to give up sensitive and personal information which is how they attack. Always be wary of these situations and never provide information unless asked from a checked and credible source.
Backing up your data
Whether at home or in business, your data is the most important thing when it comes to continuity. It doesn’t matter if you are storing sensitive client data or umpteen remixes of internet sensation Keyboard Cat, no one wants to find all their information is gone forever. The only way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to regularly backup your data so it can always be recovered in the event of a disaster!
Never leave your devices unattended or unlocked
For some this is a given, for others leaving their devices unlocked is a bad habit. You can have a password as long and as complicated as the Welsh town of ‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch’, but if you leave your device unlocked then it is worthless. For desktops, always keep them locked or turned off when not in use, and for phones, always keep them locked and on you at all times.
Whether it is Computer Security Day or any other day of the year, cybersecurity needs to be treated as an important and vital part of business. This can be a daunting task, but sfG is always at hand to help!
We are always there to monitor your systems constantly and have a support engineer on call during the evenings and weekends, to suit the needs of your business. Our IT Support team’s goal is to strive to fix any issues before you even realise there is one.