Cybercriminals don’t take holiday vacations. In fact, the coming weeks are an especially busy season for those looking to wreak digital havoc. Targeting online shoppers and unmanned workstations, these uninvited guests are everywhere. Keep yourself safe throughout the holiday season with these tips.
- Ensure Your Antivirus Software is Up to Date
Don’t wait for the new year to bolster your defenses. Before taking off for a holiday break, take care to install any updates you might have been putting off. Organizations that don’t install the latest patches and updates leave themselves vulnerable to cyber attacks. Cyber attackers are constantly refining their tools and tactics. You and your business have to work just as hard to keep yourselves safe.
- Be Careful with Wi-Fi
Unfortunately, it’s entirely possible (even likely) that your holiday vacation will involve some remote work. Outside the office, you’ll need to exercise extra care to ensure that both personal and company information are protected. Avoiding unsecured wi-fi networks is a best practice year round, but it’s especially crucial during the high-risk holiday season. Don’t let the convenience of a wi-fi hotspot outweigh the risks of leaving your valuable data vulnerable.
- Know the Signs of Phishing
Across all industries, phishing is both increasingly common and increasingly harmful. Email links and attachments are among the most popular delivery vehicles for malware and can cost companies millions. A breach to just one computer in your network could prove disastrous. That’s why it’s so important that you and your entire team recognize suspicious websites and email addresses when you see them. A well-educated staff and a clear process for reporting and addressing phishing attempts could make all the difference in keeping your IT infrastructure secure.
- Review Your Response and Recovery Plans
Despite our best efforts, cyber attacks and data breaches do happen. Before heading home for the holidays, ensure you’re familiar with your organization’s processes for addressing cyber attacks. With this information at the ready, you’ll be able to quickly and efficiently address digital threats. If you’re in a managerial role, don’t forget to train your entire team and prepare them to address the worst case scenarios.
If you have any questions about cyber-safety or protecting your systems and data, please reach out to us at www.carisma.net. We are here to help and protect!