October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and so I am going to focus on information and tips regarding online/mobile security. As I’ve written about a few times, you must have strong, secure passwords. My favorite password manager is LastPass. LastPass will even check the strength of your existing passwords to see what you should change. Even if you don’t use a password manager, ensure that your passwords are secure – consider using passphrases that no one will ever be able to guess or crack, but are easily remembered by you (for instance – “My_favorite_movie_of_all_time_is_Star_Wars”).
Another good resource is the National Cyber Security Alliance’s website. This site has a ton of information for both individuals and businesses on how to be smart about online safety/privacy. There are also good resources on the U.S. Homeland Security’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month website.
I’ll leave you with some general tips as to your mobile devices:
- Be sure to set a passcode
- Activate auto-lock so that your device is protected when you are not using it
- Set a maximum allowable number of passcode attempts (so that the device is wiped if someone tries to hack it)
- Consider installing a tracking app for locating your device if lost
Be smart about your online and mobile security because those that would take advantage certainly are – better you than them!