Did you know that October is Cyber Security Awareness Month in Australia? The initiative focusses on ensuring Australians are protected online, and aims to help Aussies view cyber security as an everyday habit, like putting on your seatbelt when you get into the car.
With the increasing threat of data breaches and leaks it’s more important that ever to protect yourself online and increase your cyber security. Luckily for us all, small actions can make a big difference. So here are three simple actions you can take right now to improve your personal cyber security.
1. Install software updates
One simple way to increase your cyber security and help prevent cybercriminals from accessing your devices is to ensure that your devices and applications are are up to date. This is because software is frequently updated to help improve security features, or address new security concerns.
ACTION: Turn on automatic updates on your devices and applications. If not available, you can manually update as required instead.
2. Use a passphrase to increase your cyber security
A passphrase is different from a password. Many people create passwords from a random series of numbers, letters and symbols (which is hard to remember!) or else use a formulaic and common word combo (easy for hackers to guess!). However, a passphrase is a random group of words that is easy for you to remember, and hard for hackers to figure out. Also, they’re often longer than the average password, and therefore harder for someone to guess.
According to Australian Government advice, there are three key things to remember when choosing your passphrase. It must be: long (15 or more characters), unpredictable, and unique.
ACTION: Change your passwords to passphrases instead. To create your passphrase, string at least four random words together. Avoid using identifiable words like family names, or anything relating to a birthday or home address.
Use a password manager to help
It can be tricky to remember dozens of different passwords. Unfortunately, repeating passwords weakens your cyber security. If one password is compromised, anything that uses that password is at risk.
A password manager can help you manage and even create strong and unique passwords for all of your accounts. A password manager stores your passwords, so you don’t have to remember them all yourself. Instead, you only need to remember the one master password – or PIN, keycode or biometric, depending on your provider – for your password manager.
It’s important to do your research and make sure you use a reputable password manager. Some key things to look at are:
- Does it offer strong security features?
- Is it updated often?
- Does it enable multi-factor authentication? (More on that below.)
- Will it alert you if a password is exposed in a data breach?
- Can it sync between different devices?
- Is there a browser extension that will automatically enter passwords online?
Remember, you can always seek advice from an IT professional to help you improve your cyber security.
3. Set up multi-factor authentication
This is an increasingly common way to improve cyber security. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) means that when you log into an account, you need to provide more than one entry key (eg. more than just a password).
Having to provide two or more proofs of identity makes it harder for cybercriminals to gain access to your accounts. Common second identification checks include a text message with a unique one-time PIN, biometrics like using your fingerprint on your mobile phone, or using an authenticator app that will generate a random one-time code.
ACTION: Turn on multi-factor authentication wherever possible across your devices and applications. As a first step, prioritise your banking, email and superannuation accounts.
What is an authenticator app?
This is an application that you can install onto your phone and link to your various accounts. It will generate a passcode when required as part of the login process.
Let’s say you link your email to it. When you log in to your email, and you have turned on multi-factor authentication, you will be prompted to enter a passcode. You will then open the authenticator app on your phone, and the passcode will have been automatically generated there. You then enter that code into your email login to finish signing in.
The advice in this article is general in nature. For more information about Cyber Security Awareness Month and improving your cyber security, visit the official government website.
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