Cyber hygiene is a guide to best practices and steps users of computers and other devices can take to keep systems healthy and improve security. They are routine practices best ensuring the safety of data and identity that could be stolen or corrupted. As with physical hygiene, cyber hygiene is regularly conducted to ward off theft, corruption and more.
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Your Cybersecurity checklist
Password Protection
Use a secure password manager
Use multi factor authentication when available
Use complex passphrase with numbers, symbols and/or upper- and lower-case letters
Never provide your password when requested by email or through a site. Contact the requester by phone
Disable password save in computer browsers
Don’t keep password lists in emails, within unsecured programs, on paper off your person
Privacy
Use VPN when public Wi-Fi is necessary
Require a password in order to access a thumb drive
Encrypt / password protect documents as appropriate
Cover the camera on your laptop and tablet
Keep work and private personal digital information separate
Always manually log off of networks, websites, and email platforms when you are finished
Periodically clear out cookies
Consider faxing confidential information
Consider using a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) shield for credit cards, passports, debit cards, atm cards, drivers licenses
Hardware, Software and Operating Systems
Keep software and operating systems up to date – Fully & frequently patched and correctly configured
Don’t install outdated or unsupported software
Use onsite and offsite backups for important data
Implement patches as soon as available
Virus and Malware programs installed on computers with current definitions information separate
Install a tracker to locate lost devices
Install a program/app that can remotely lock or wipe lost devices