Go #CyberAware: Tips to get started with online security
Did you know that October is the National Cybersecurity Awareness Month? At Tresorit, we put security first every day throughout the year. However, we decided to use this opportunity as well to spread the word about what we can do to make our digital life a little bit safer. On week one, we share some essential online security tips from Tresorit’s experts.
Secure your accounts: take passwords seriously
In the last couple of weeks, mega-breach stories like the Dropbox or Yahoo incidents have served as reminders of the importance of passwords and account protection.
To make hackers’ job more difficult, you need to create strong passwords when using any online service. Read more on how you can create strong passwords in this post. Even more important, you need to use different passwords for each service and change your passwords regularly.
To maximize account protection, use two-factor authentication when available. This additional security layer protects your account if your password gets compromised, as hackers would still need your phone or security code to get into your account. See how you can turn on two-factor authentication for multiple online services, including Tresorit.
Make web surfing safe: update your browser and plug-ins to avoid vulnerabilities
To prevent malicious code from infecting your computer, update all the software you use. Software updates provide security upgrades, product enhancements and bug fixes that can improve both your user experience and online security.
Pay special attention to your web browser and plugins! Beyond updating your plug-ins, delete the ones you don’t use: visit the plug-ins page of your browser and disable them from running automatically. Plug-ins that are most prone to vulnerabilities are Java, Adobe Reader, and Silverlight.
Web browsers keep on changing the way they display plug-in permissions, so make sure to check your permissions periodically and learn how to manage them.
Use your mobile with care: Protect your mobile device with passcodes and stay away from suspicious apps
If you leave your phone unattended, your data can easily get into the wrong hands. To protect data on your device, use fingerprint recognition or create a long passcode and set up short timeout (preferably immediate lock). To add an extra layer of account security, create additional passcodes for individual apps.
To keep your files and photos safe, backup to a secure, end-to-end encrypted cloud service. Tresorit also has a remote wipe feature, which lets you delete sensitive files from your lost or stolen phone or laptop while keeping them secure in the cloud.
Before you download any app to your mobile device, make sure that it comes from a trusted developer. Hackers hide malicious code inside apps that “seem” safe. Although this threat is especially relevant for Android devices, iOS and Windows’ users aren’t safe either.
