Lesson 2: Cybersecurity for Individuals
Cyber-Threats to Individuals:
Individuals are most likely to be targeted by cybercriminals in search of money. This is especially true for the elderly population, who are not as familiar with technology as younger people. Unlike companies, there are not many security policies that individuals have to adhere to. Obviously, there are laws prohibiting unauthorized hacking and offensive actions. However, when it comes to policies for ordinary internet users to keep themselves safe, it is really a matter of preference as to how they want to do it.
Without taking any security measures, individuals make themselves vulnerable to revealing their data which can lead to financial loss or hindrances in daily life.
Actions Individuals Should Take...
Regardless of your role on the internet, there are some security recommendations that everyone should try to follow! From basic to more advanced, here are some things that you can implement to protect yourself from cyberattacks.
Video Resource: https://www.youtube.com/embed/nARrIdmE8BY
General Recomendations (Applicable to Everyone):
Passwords:
It is vital that you use strong password. Here are the qualities of a strong password:
- No full words or phrases
- No relation to you
- Include a variety of different characters (uppercase, lowercase, special, numbers)
- At least 8 characters in length
Websites and Applications usually force users to adhere to these password guidelines for the purpose of security. However, when these guidelines are not enforced, it is the user's responsibility to set a password that is secure. Here are some examples of passwords:
Good Passwords:
- X9Gj*j3^8
- @kl9$lKd3#
Bad Passwords:
- iLoveCats123
- 12345678
- Password
- tHeGu1tar
Lastly, you should not write down your passwords on paper or digitally. You should always use a password manager because they are optimized for security.
Other General Recomendations:
- Use a VPN: a Virtual Private Network will establish secure connections between devices and encrypt data in transit to prevent someone from intercepting your communications
- Avoid Unsecure Websites: generally avoid HTTP sites, they are not as secure as HTTPS
- Don't click on suspicious links or files
- Don't reveal personal information to untrusted people