Digital hygiene? What’s that?

Digital hygiene is a lot like dental hygiene. A dental hygiene regimen helps to protect our teeth and gums from bacteria, infection, and decay. A digital hygiene regimen is necessary to protect our technology and information against infection from viruses, malware, hacking, phishing and other cyber attacks.

Cyber attacks are just about as stealthy as dental attacks. Most often we don’t realize that we have developed a cavity until it is already too late. The same is true with cyber infections. The best hygiene in either the dental or the digital world is preventive. A 2015 report by Verizon revealed that most cyber attacks are not carried out by a full frontal hacking of a device, but rather by manipulating the humans that operate them.

Digital hygiene requires continual, proactive care.

Just as routine dental hygiene involves care at home and checkups by a professional, so, too, does digital hygiene. Here are 10 important steps we recommend to keep your technology safe.

1. Be extra careful when asked for personal information in response to emails, phone calls (cell phones are technology too), or web pages. It’s not that sharing is, itself a bad thing. Just be super cautious about what you share and with whom you share it.
2. Do not respond to online or on-phone demands to run a particular software on your computer.
3. Do not be afraid of specific online threats of “account closure, disciplinary action, or arrest.” Legitimate businesses do not usually threaten people.
4. Ensure that all of your software is up to date. You can set your devices to update automatically. (If you are not sure if you should or how you can exercise this option, give us a call at 843-282-2222. We will be happy to help.)
5. Avoid visiting “suspicious” websites or installing “suspicious” programs.
6. Think carefully about identifying your location on your mobile devices.
7. Create strong passwords on all devices – including your cell phone.
8. Think twice before clicking on attachments or links.
9. Strengthen your security with two-step verification for access. Click on this link to learn how to use Google account two-step verification. (Did you think twice before clicking on the link?)
10. Have a regular digital hygiene checkup.

Guarding your technology is best done with regular digital hygiene. It just takes an awareness of potential dangers and taking a few, common-sense steps to ensure the safety of your data and devices.

Tech Sentries is as concerned about your computer system security as you are. Your computer system security is our business. That’s why Tech Sentries is always on duty. Contact us today to learn how we can help you “GUARD YOUR TECHNOLOGY” (843-282-2222).