Cyber Security Awareness Month

As we navigate the internet, we leave behind a trail of data with every action we take. We form our digital footprint as a record of our online activities, including the websites we visit, the emails we send, the social media posts we share, and the applications that we use. A large digital footprint holds a higher risk of exposing personal information, making us vulnerable to an invasion of privacy, identity theft and other cyber threats.

Cyber Security Awareness Month is an opportunity to reflect on our activities online and take proactive steps to safeguard our digital lives. One of the most effective ways to do this is through practising regular self-audits to evaluate our own personal cyber security posture, effectively protect our sensitive information, prevent cyber-attacks and foster a culture of security awareness.

This Cyber Security Awareness Month, Amstelveen encourages individuals to take the time to perform a self-audit of their online habits, digital footprint and security.

Cyber Security Self-Audit

This checklist will assist you to conduct a self-assessment on how cyber safe you are on the more common personal interactions online. Whether you are a seasoned professional, cyber guru or the everyday user, this checklist will both test your hygiene and equip you with practical tips and better practices to stay secure in an increasingly interconnected world.

Prevention

• Review your account logins
  Have you ensured that your passwords are complex, unpredictable, and unique to each account?
  This includes reviewing and activating Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) where possible.

• Secure your home network
  Have you reviewed and changed the default usernames and passwords for your router and internet?
  Have you checked that your router is using the strongest encryption available (Typically WPA3)?

• Limit application permissions
  Have you checked the permissions that you have granted to apps on your devices (for example, access to your microphone, camera, location and contacts)?

• Update your devices
  Have you updated your phone, tablets, computers and other devices, such as smart home products and routers, with the latest security patches?
  This includes updating applications installed on these devices.

• Adjust privacy settings
  Have you reviewed and restricted your privacy settings on social media, apps, and websites?
  This includes checking and updating the list of users you have allowed to see your content.

• Maintain awareness
  Are you aware of the latest security threats, phishing and scamming tactics – including unsolicited messages with suspicious links, or demands for personal information?

Detection

• Enable activity alerts
  Are alerts set up for suspicious behaviour, such as login attempts from unknown devices or locations?
  This includes automated monitoring or alerts (where feasible) across applications, online accounts and devices.

• Review connected accounts & devices
  Have you reviewed your accounts have only been accessed by recognised devices?
  Have you reviewed which devices are currently connected to your home network?

• Check for data breaches
  Have your credentials been compromised in any data breaches? Use websites such as “Have I been Pwned?” to check.

• Check your digital footprint
  Is there any unwanted information publicly available when you search for your own name online?
  Where possible, have you reviewed data and information held by any applications or platforms you use?
  Ensure you remove, or request for organisations to revoke any unwanted publicly available information.

Use this opportunity to review any historical social media activity – be aware of context clues.

Your digital footprint often contains more context clues than you intend. For example, photos, interactions and casual indications of daily routines can provide insights into your location, habits, and personal preferences. Review your accounts from the perspective of a member of the public.

Response

• Enable and review backups
  Have you enabled regular backups of any critical data, and tested that it can be restored, when required?

• Plan for remediation
  Have you learnt about resources available (e.g. cyber.gov.au) if you suspect you’re a victim of cybercrime?

Conclusion

Stay Informed and Spread the Word – The digital and cyber landscape is constantly changing, so it is critical to maintain awareness of the latest security threats and advancements. This can be achieved by seeking information through relevant forums, or following cyber security news sites, blogs, and experts to understand better practices. Spreading awareness and promoting discussions with coworkers, friends and family to stay cyber-safe contributes to a more secure digital environment for everyone.

While Cyber Security Awareness Month encourages increased time and attention to the risks associated with our digital footprint, these conversations must persist year-round to encourage personal cyber security and safety. A digital self-audit can be performed on a regular basis to maintain best practices as habits.