Best practices to be cyber smart and more secure online
Hello WBOPPHO team,
Welcome back from a well-deserved break!
Cybersecurity needs to be an important part of our culture and can enable you to accomplish more while keeping your data and identity protected.
Here are some tips to help you be safer online:
Phishing: This is usually in the form of an email, website, or text message that lures you into giving away confidential information about yourself or your organization. How to avoid taking the bait?
o Inspect the sender’s email address and look for verifiable sender contact information. Often the address will look a bit like a legit address but will have subtle differences (eg. BNZNZ.co.nz rather than the correct BNZ.co.nz). If in doubt, do not reply. Start a new email to respond.
o Avoid clicking on unexpected links and opening untrustworthy email attachments. If something appears to be suspicious – get one of my team to have a look before you open it.
Scams: Tech scams often make you think you need to “fix” a non-existent problem or will request a ransom payment. Always report when you suspect a scam. How to protect yourself from a scam?
o Be aware of unsolicited tech support calls and error messages requesting urgent contact.
o Do not follow guidance to download software from an email or third-party website.
o If you get asked to something that seems very unusual (eg. Lindsey emails you asking you to go buy a $100 gift card, copy it and fax it to her at a number) be VERY suspicious! Always verify with a phone call.
o The incidental friend you met on the internet who vows his/her love for you but just needs $2000 (or $10,000) to buy plane tickets to see you is unlikely to be your future partner!
Devices and data: Protecting devices is important for safeguarding your emails, accounts, and data and avoiding identity theft. Out-of-date devices and software are a leading access point for attackers.
How to protect devices and data?
o Be skeptical of messages with links, especially those asking for personal information.
o Always enable the lock feature on all your mobile devices and update software immediately.
o Enable multifactor authentication on your apps and accounts when available.
Signing-in: One of the most important ways to improve the security of your online accounts is to protect your sign-in process. How to protect your identity?
o Use a password manager
o Create strong passphrases for your passwords. (at least 12 characters long but 14 or more is better); a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols).
o i.e. ‘Don’tcryformeArgentina’ (21) or better still ‘D0N’tcrYf0Rm3Argentina’
Each of us plays an important role to help protect our organization from cyberthreats. Let’s be cyber smart together!
Best, Ngā mihi Chris Dever
Chief Information Officer
M: +64 27 449 7589| E: Chris.Dever@WBoPPHO.org.nz