Safer Internet Day: Cybersecurity Resolutions

It’s February, so how are your resolutions going? Many have probably fallen off the wagon but whether you’ve abandoned the gym or started eating takeaways again, it’s important to consider some cybersecurity resolutions. Safer Internet Day is today (5 February) and Norton by Symantec has a year-round plan to keep your digital life secure.

Summer: The kids have headed back to school and so should you. Continue to educate yourself on how to reduce your risk of identity theft and other cybercrimes. Just by knowing how thieves operate, you will be better equipped to handle scam calls, phishing emails and other nefarious attempts to steal your personal information and your identity. There are plenty of free educational resources out there to take advantage of, like those offered by Netsafe.

Autumn: Once you’re in the know about cybercriminals and their threats, make sure you let others in your life know about the dangers. It’s also a great season to be a cyber-safe evangelist to your friends, family and co-workers. There is no better way to learn than to teach someone else. Since you’ve learned new habits, tricks and tips, consider sharing them with your friends, family members, neighbours and co-workers to help them stay safe as well.

Winter: It doesn’t matter if you think you’re freezing in Auckland, or actually are knee-deep in the Southland snow. If you believe you’ve fallen victim to identity theft, ask credit reporters to freeze your credit. This means that new lines of credit can’t be opened in your name as credit lenders are unable to view your credit history. For more information go to the Privacy Commissioner’s website.

Spring: When you think of spring cleaning, your first thought might be about how best to tidy up the garage or shed, but there’s something else that most likely needs a “spruce up” and that’s your digital presence. Social media profiles and online searches are just a few places where thieves go to glean information about you, which might then be used to guess your password, scam you or gain access to your account. Reducing your digital presence by eliminating old online accounts and social media profiles is a great start.

In addition to your digital presence, your devices – whether new or old– typically contain a treasure trove of data and personal information. If these devices end up in the wrong hands, a thief could wreak havoc on your accounts and possibly even your identity. To keep yourself safe, take any old devices sitting around the house, wipe them clean and properly recycle them by taking them to a free e-recycling event in your community. It’s also a good idea to take some time to clean your current devices by removing old apps, double checking all of your privacy settings and more.

And lastly, if you’re feeling adventurous, go through old paper files and shred the documents (using a cross-cut shredder) that you no longer need, especially those containing personal identifying information (PII). If you don’t have your own shredder there are free shredding events offered in many communities from trusted organisations.

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