As we celebrate Cyber Smart Week across Aotearoa, it’s crucial to promote simple ways to keep ourselves safe online.
Unfortunately, many New Zealanders still use the same password for multiple accounts, accept friend requests from people they don’t know and delay updating their phones and laptops for months on end.
If you’ve been procrastinating, this is the week to act. Here are four easy steps to improve your cyber security:
Step 1 – Passwords, passwords, passwords
Good password hygiene is essential for protecting yourself online. When creating a password, make sure it’s:
Step 2 – Use two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts. It’s a simple step after you log in, like answering a question or entering a code sent to your phone number. You can enable 2FA on most of your online accounts and devices by turning it on in the privacy settings.
Step 3 – Privacy check up
It’s important to keep an eye on what information you’re sharing online and with whom. One easy check is to review your privacy settings on your social media accounts. Ensure they are set to ‘Friends Only’ or ‘Private’ so that only those you know can see your activity. Posting vacation photos on public profiles is an easy way to let the wrong people know you’re not at home, making you a target for theft.
Step 4 – Update your apps and devices
Don’t ignore alerts to update your devices. Updates not only add new features but also keep bugs and viruses out and fix security risks that attackers can use to gain access to your information. Take a few minutes to update your devices, and you set them to automatically update when a new version is available.
Report it
If someone accesses your data, report it to CERT NZ. They’re the team of people helping protect New Zealand from cybersecurity threats and incidents.
Let’s all do our part to improve our online defenses. Start by taking these four simple steps to keep yourself safe online.
