Cyber Security – Does it matter to me?
Thebestof Taunton and Bridgwater attended a network event this week about Cyber Security hosted by the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce and Ross Brown of The Cyber Resilience Group talked us through a host of ways we can help ourselves for free.
As we all become more digital than ever before, the scammers get better and better. They, too, watch the trends and the news and will pick the most up to date topics to use to scam and trick us. This can become troubling for individuals and especially for our small businesses who often are just dipping their toes into e-commerce or online bookings. Anything that involves taking a client’s card numbers and personal information can be hacked if you don’t look after your systems in a timely and efficient manner.
So how do we protect ourselves and do it for free? Well, Head of Cyber Security and Innovation for The Cyber Resilience Centre for the South West, Ross Brown (ex policeman), tells us that there are many things we can build into our regular routines to help ourselves. He explains that the most important thing we can do to help ourselves is ‘Don’t make it easy for people to hack you’ and what he’s saying is: keep your passwords separate, strong and secure!
This means that you must keep a strong and secure password for EACH account you have. Tiresome isn’t it? Every time you use the same password though you are increasing your chances of cyber attack. Strong passwords are most effective if they are three totally random words: Hair%Sprout4Fish*. Oh but that makes them hard to remember I hear you all cry… Use the save passwords in your browser function if you have it, it’s very secure and can be very effective. If you can afford it, use a service like Password Manager which allows you to store all your passwords safely in one place and you only need to remember the one password to get in!
Turn on that 2 Factor Authentication that your apps keep asking you about. Yes it’s another level of of fiddling around when you are in a hurry, but in reality it takes seconds and can protect you very well. Update your devices and ensure that you are all running the latest versions of your software. Old laptops running Windows XP will not be getting updates and therefore will be the hackers preferred target given the choice. Again, think of Ross’s mantra: Don’t make it easy for them!
Back up your data REGULARLY. Doing it once a year might make you feel virtuous for a while but it won’t help you when you lose eight month’s worth of data since your last back up. Set it to automatically back up and forget about it, or set reminders in your calenders and actually do it. Don’t let it sit on the back burner.
Ross also has a free core membership offer that gives much more helpful information, if you would like to find out more then click here and take a look at what they can offer you. Cyber Security doesn’t just affect the Big Boys, it can happen to the Little Guys too. Don’t make it easy for them.
For any web design, security, e-commerce or hosting advice check out our website where you can search our business directory and find Dexterous Designs or axisfirst, both very reputable web companies that can help you with any aspect of your online profile.
