It’s that time of year again, school in back in session! What does that mean for you and your technology? It means there will be more devices, maybe some new accounts and definitely more screen time. The internet is being used more and more for different things. Sometimes we can be too trusting and can forget about the importance of cybersecurity.
Not everyone loves talking about cybersecurity, but with everything being online it is really important that students learn and are protecting themselves online. Here are some helpful tips to keep you and your kids safe while online.
One important thing to do it to password protect your laptops and phones. Some people don’t like setting passwords because they don’t want to take the time every time they open their device. Having you technology password protected keeps your data away from sticky fingers. Having it locked isn’t enough, you should also use strong passwords. Never use your birthday or name, and always use unique passwords. Having different passwords can be a pain, but there are free secure services such as LastPass that will save and encrypt your log in information.
Another cyber security tip is to use the multi-factor authentication for your email and other sites that offer it. Your email is essentially the hub of your digital communications and can allow easy access into your other accounts. Having that extra layer of security, like requiring a texted pin to sign in from a new device or your fingerprint will keep your information secure.
A couple other things, always be careful on public WiFi. If someone knows that they’re doing can get into almost any computer on a wireless network. This is extremely important in places such as schools. Don’t go to any accounts that contain payment information or personal information while on a public WiFi.
Last but not least, always keep your software up to date. I know sometimes the constant update pop ups can be annoying but they are essential. Not only do updates make your software run better and add new features, it also updates the security on the software