How many internet-connected devices do you have in your home? While these devices make our lives easier, they also make us easy targets for cybercriminals. So, whether you are connecting to the internet through social media, online shopping, or listening to music on a smart speaker, here are some cybersecurity tips for everyday use:
Social Media Safety
- We recommend keeping your social media profile set to private and only connecting with people who you know and trust.
- Don’t share anything online that you wouldn’t want to be made public. No matter how cautious you are, any information posted on social media can still fall into the wrong hands.
- Watch out for posts that trick you into oversharing. For example, you may have seen a post that gives you a silly nickname based on random personal details. Personal details such as your first pet’s name or the year you were born, can be used by cybercriminals to guess passwords, answer security questions, or even impersonate you on social media.
Online Shopping Safety
- Only shop on well-known, reputable websites.
- Only pay using a credit or debit card. Never agree to send cash or wire money to a seller.
- Shop for the safest deal and not the cheapest. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Smart Device Safety
- Smart speakers and some smartphones have an “always listening” setting that allows you to speak to it at any time. We recommend turning off this setting or muting the microphone while working from home or while discussing sensitive information.
- Much like a web browser, smart devices track your activity history. Review your history periodically to check for unusual activity. We also recommend clearing your device history on a regular basis.
- Keep your devices up-to-date. Smart devices receive important security patches through software updates.
