October is cybersecurity awareness and cybercrime prevention month and this October marks 21 years since the #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth campaigns began. This is an international initiative to educate people on how to enhance their online safety and empower them against data threats and cybercrime. Like 2023, this year’s theme is Secure Our World which reminds us that amidst large-scale data breaches and cyberattacks, there are simple, effective ways to keep ourselves safe online, protect our personal data, and ultimately help #SecureOurWorld.
The last decade has seen rapid shifts in the digital ecosystem: from disruptive technological developments to more people joining the digital space, and more businesses offering their services through digital platforms. As a result, more and more of our sensitive information is finding itself online, either through our consent or through manipulative and illegal means. Cybersecurity is no longer reserved for businesses but is now an integral part of our everyday lives and when done right, it can greatly improve our online safety and give us the peace of mind that our data, finances, organizations, and families are protected.
The Tatua Digital Resilience Centre is proud to be a champion and support the online safety initiative this October. To kickstart this campaign, here are 4 simple behaviors you can adopt to improve your online safety this month:
- Use strong passwords and a reputable password manager
- Turn on multifactor authentication
- Update your device software and applications
- Learn how to recognize and report phishing scams
In the coming weeks, Tatua will release simple tips on how we can implement the 4 behaviors above, as well as other cyber hygiene tips for you and your organization. You can also visit the Tatua website for detailed guides on Cyber Hygiene For You and Cyber Hygiene for Small and Medium Enterprises.