October – National Cyber Security Awareness Month: crossing the digital street – everyday steps toward online safety

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Dennis Cracraft
  • 436th Communications Squadron
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Living in a digital age allows people from all over the world to have access to an abundance of resources. The Internet connects billions of devices and people around the world. Communication has never been easier thanks to email, instant messaging, and social media. While advancements in technology have made it possible for more people to own and operate electronic devices, they have also created opportunities in which cyber criminals thrive.

What can you do to protect yourself?

There are many steps that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim. The most significant is to educate yourself on the devices you use; knowing is half the battle. Being able to properly configure your devices and enable security settings can significantly decrease your chances of being compromised.

According to an April, 2015, article on CNN Money (http://money.cnn.com/2015/04/14/technology/security/cyber-attack-hacks-security/), Symantec, a software security company, reported that more than 317 million new pieces of malware were created in 2014, nearly one million per day. These programs can degrade performance, corrupt hard drives and monitor users’ online behavior.

Installing and running security software such as Norton and McAfee will help thwart malicious software from infecting your hardware. This should be one of the first things users do when using a new device. Frequently updating security software is equally important, as it ensures your software is updated with the latest virus signatures. Developing a routine where you update the operating system, applications and security software will reduce the chance of a vulnerability being exploited, resulting in a compromised system.

Software can greatly improve users’ cyber security, however, simply installing software, does not make computers impervious to cyber-attacks. Responsible users should reinforce their programming with a good online etiquette, which is important when interacting with others on social networks.

Revealing too much information about yourself or family can encourage scams, cyber stalking, cyber harassment, or identity theft.
According to a March, 2015, article on CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/23/us/online-threat-isis-us-troops/) it was reported in 2015 that a group claiming affiliation with ISIS posted names, photos, and addresses of about 100 U.S. troops, requesting they be attacked. It is imperative to be aware of what you post and who you are “friends” with online. It is easy for cyber criminals to pose as a “friend” in order to extract more information about you.

Phishing attempts have become more successful due to the lack of awareness. These attacks occur when users open an email containing a malicious link or file. If you don’t know someone, don’t open an email and don’t accept them as a friend.

As technology continues to advance and we become more involved and connected to the Internet through many different devices, it is everyone’s personal responsibility to educate themselves on how to stay safe. Properly implementing and updating security software will help reduce the chance of malware infecting your device. Be cautious of the sites you visit and how much information you post about yourself on social media. Information is valuable in a digital world, and it is the responsibility of everyone to take the proper steps to protect themselves. Are you taking the steps toward online safety?