The Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance established National Cyber Security Awareness Month in an effort to help Americans stay safe and secure online. This effort, started in 2004 and observed each year in October, seeks to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity.

This year’s theme is Secure Our World and it asks all Americans to adopt ongoing cybersecurity habits and improve their online safety behaviors. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency offers four simple but important steps everyone can take to be more secure online. They are:

1. Use Strong Passwords – be sure passwords contain both uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols and are at least 12 characters. A password manager is very powerful tool to help users not only create strong passwords for each account but also to save them for easy access.
2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – By enabling MFA on your accounts, you are adding another level of security beyond a strong password. MFA should be enabled where ever possible but definitely on your financial accounts and emails.
3. Learn to Recognize and Report Phishing attempts – Be wary of unsolicited emails. Do not click on any links contained in them nor open any attachments sent with the email. Do not share any sensitive information or login credentials with an unknown source.
4. Update Software – Make sure your software is up to date. This ensures you have the latest security patches and updates across all of your devices. Turn on automatic updates when available and, if not, be sure to regularly check for updates and run them promptly.

TNTMAX will be sharing more cybersecurity-related information throughout the month of October as we seek to provide more tools and know-how to stay safe online. Be sure to check back here and on our social media for more tips. To learn how TNTMAX can help your business with cybersecurity measures, please click here.