Summer is coming to an end. Vacations are winding down, children are heading back to school, and many of us are returning to our normal work routines. As we unpack the suitcases, organize backpacks, and get back to our daily schedules, there is another area that deserves our attention: our digital security.
The start of a new school and work year is a perfect time to take a few simple steps to protect ourselves, our families, and our businesses online.
Start With Your Passwords
If you haven’t changed your passwords in a while, now is a good time to review them. The most important rule is simple: don’t reuse passwords across different accounts.
If a criminal obtains your password from one website, they will often try that same username and password on other websites. This is known as credential stuffing, and it can turn one compromised account into several.
Use strong, unique passwords for important accounts, particularly email, banking, financial, and work accounts. Better yet, use a reputable password manager to create and securely store complex passwords.
And whenever possible, enable multifactor authentication (MFA). A password alone should not be the only thing protecting an important account.
Be Careful With School and Work Emails
Back-to-school and back-to-work periods generate an enormous amount of email. That creates opportunities for criminals.
Be especially cautious of messages asking you to click a link, open an attachment, purchase gift cards, transfer money, provide personal information, or “verify” an account.
Criminals can make phishing emails look remarkably legitimate. They may impersonate a school, teacher, administrator, employer, bank, or even someone you know.
Before clicking, stop and ask yourself: Was I expecting this? Does the request make sense?
If you’re unsure, don’t use the telephone number or link contained in the message. Contact the organization using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
Protect Your Children’s Digital Lives
Back-to-school preparation shouldn’t stop with school supplies.
Parents should talk with their children about online safety. Know what apps and social media platforms they are using and understand what information they are sharing.
Remind children that photographs, locations, school information, schedules, and personal details can reveal far more than they realize. Once something is posted online, you may not be able to control where it goes.
Parents should also review privacy settings and consider whether location-sharing features are necessary.
Think Before Using Public Wi-Fi
Travel and school activities often mean connecting to public Wi-Fi at airports, hotels, coffee shops, libraries, and other locations.
Avoid conducting sensitive financial or business transactions on unsecured public networks whenever possible. If you must connect, use your organization’s approved security tools or a trusted VPN and ensure your device’s security software is current.
Also remember that charging stations can present risks. When possible, use your own power adapter and connect directly to a power outlet rather than plugging your device into an unfamiliar USB port.
Update Your Devices
Those annoying update notifications are there for a reason.
Cybercriminals routinely exploit known vulnerabilities in operating systems, applications, browsers, phones, and other devices. Before returning to school or work, make sure your devices are running current software and security updates.
Don’t forget the devices you may not think about as computers—including tablets, smart watches, home security devices, and routers.
A New Season, A New Security Check
The end of summer provides a natural reminder to reset our routines. While you’re checking your calendar, buying school supplies, or preparing to return to the office, take a few minutes to conduct a digital security check.
Review your passwords. Enable MFA. Update your devices. Check your privacy settings. Talk to your children about online safety. And most importantly, slow down before clicking.
Cybersecurity doesn’t always require sophisticated technology. Sometimes the most effective security tool is simply an informed and cautious user.
As we return to work and school, let’s make online safety part of the routine.
New season. New routines. Same rule: Think before you click.
