5 Cybersecurity Tips to Keep You Safe at Home & Work

Five Nines Team : Nov 5, 2020 9:47:50 AM

1 min read

Phishing Cybersecurity

5 Cybersecurity Tips to Keep You Safe at Home & Work

TL;DR

Use strong, unique passwords plus multi‑factor authentication, ideally stored in a reputable password manager.
Reduce your risk by staying patched, backing up important data, and watching for signs your accounts have been exposed.
Slow down before you click on any unexpected link or attachment, and loop in IT when something feels off.

We partnered with HBE CPAs & Consultants to present Security Tips to Keep You Safe at Home & Work, and here are the top 5 tips we covered:

#1 – Practice Good Password Hygiene

To practice good password hygiene, you will want to use strong and unique passwords and enable two-factor or multi-factor authentication. If you’re worried about having to remember a large number of unique passwords for all your accounts, Jessica suggests downloading the free password manager “Last Pass” on your desktop or mobile device.

#2 – Know Your Risk Factors

Be aware that there is a cybersecurity risk of just browsing the internet or having an email address – it’s low, but it’s there. Jessica suggests using haveibeenpwned.com to check if an email address, password, or website has been compromised and how frequently. From here, you can make more knowledgeable decisions on website subscriptions or update your accounts with higher-strength passwords.

#3 – Perform Regular Updates

Hopefully, your IT department is frequently performing these on your work devices, but it should be done on personal devices as well. For a Windows device, you can type “Windows Update Settings” in the search bar and check for updates. A good rule of thumb is every 30 days to ensure your device works as efficiently as possible.

#4 – Have a Backup Solution

Be proactive rather than reactive. If you don’t have something in place now, it will be too late when you do get hacked. Back up essential documents using cloud-based methods such as Google Drive or iCloud. If you are someone with a vast amount of data to store, Jessica suggests a paid backup solution: BackBlaze is only $6/month for unlimited storage.

#5 – Think Before You Click

Be wary of unsolicited messages – emails, texts, online ads. Hackers send these in hopes of gaining access to your credentials or to prove your domain is credible. Jessica suggests you do not respond, do not click on links, and always delete. Also, mark as spam, block sender and notify your IT department. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Frequently asked questions

What does “good password hygiene” actually mean?

Good password hygiene means using long, unique passwords for each account, enabling MFA wherever possible, and storing those passwords in a secure password manager so you do not reuse or simplify them.

How can I quickly check if my accounts might be compromised?

You can use public breach‑check sites like haveibeenpwned.com to see whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known data breaches, then immediately change any exposed credentials and strengthen them.

Why are regular updates such a big deal for security?

Updates patch known vulnerabilities in your operating system and apps. If you skip them, attackers can exploit those holes, so applying updates at least monthly on all devices significantly lowers your risk.

What is a simple backup strategy for home and work?

Back up important files to a reputable cloud service (like Google Drive or iCloud) and, if you have a lot of data, consider an automated backup service so your critical information can be restored if your device is lost or encrypted by malware.

How do I decide whether to trust an email or link?

Be skeptical of any unsolicited message asking you to click, download, or log in. Check the sender carefully, avoid clicking links you did not expect, report suspicious messages to IT, and when in doubt, go directly to the known website instead of using the link provided.