It’s that time of the new year. In January of each year, I write an article to help you think about your home, electronic and personal safety. 2020 was a horrible year to say the least. The virus has affected us all in different ways. Working from home has increased dramatically. It has also increased computing, games and social networks. All of this increases our exposure to “bad actors” online.
Here are some things to consider.
Social media:
I put this first because of all the bad information on social media that could cause you to do something that could cause harm. Do not believe “anything” you read or see on social media until you confirm or verify this information with other independent sources. This is especially important with anything related to the virus or the vaccine.
Working from home:
Working from home has increased dramatically this year, which is wonderful, it kept people working and getting paid. It has also created security problems. If you work from home, keep the doors closed. Some outdoor cameras would be a good investment in your personal security.
Your Internet security should be reviewed. Make sure you have changed your Wi-Fi router and modem passwords. As a reminder, your password should consist of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. It must not contain any dictionary words and must be at least 12 characters long. Invest in a good password manager, which is also capable of generating good passwords.
Video conferencing has also increased considerably in 2020.
As with anything on the internet, make sure your video conferencing software is protected with a good password. Also, you need to know how to turn off the audio and video on whatever computer you are using. You don’t want someone to take control of your camera without your knowledge.
The computer you are using must have an up-to-date Internet security program. A good one will update at least once a day, if not every hour. You should consider using a VPN program. You may already be using one to access your company’s servers and computers.
If you are using Wi-Fi, be sure to check the passwords for the routers. This means that you have gained access to the router and changed the default password. Most router or cable company instructions will tell you how to do this.
The most important thing is to stay safe; you know how to do that.