Summer is an interesting time of year.
We spend, at least, some of the time trying to take advantage of the warmer weather to get away on vacation. And, of course, we hope that the weather – when we arrive at our destination – is nicer than it is at home, right?
Or, maybe, we decide to stick closer to home and do some summer cleaning, mostly by closing our eyes and getting rid of some of the stuff we know is cluttering up our closet or garage. Yet another option is to get out in the yard and plant some flowers or take care of the garden. In fact, there’s some people who will tell you that digging in the dirt is their therapy!
So, you might ask, what does any of this have to do with cybersecurity?
In Salem, Indiana, and all over the country, June is National Internet Safety Month!
Established by the U.S. Senate in 2005, it’s focused mostly on families and kids (of all ages). With school out and the opportunity to spend more time together, the intention of Internet Safety Month is to raise our awareness about online safety and remind all of us of the recommended tips and best practices that are out there to protect us from cyber threats and, at the same time, help us make our way more securely through the digital world we live in.
It’s important to keep in mind, according to one recent survey, that, on average, a child in Indiana received his/her first cellphone or mobile device at 10.82 years of age. In the same study, parents in Indiana were asked at what age do they wish they had given their child a cell phone, the answer is 12.18 years old. That’s a key factor when you consider that by the age of 12, 50 percent of all children have social media accounts, primarily on Facebook and Instagram.
That being said, in today’s ever-changing world, there are plenty of things we can do this week and this month (and year-round) to celebrate our Internet safety, including these 10 helpful tips from the National Cybersecurity Alliance, such as:
Of course, because it’s summer, we’re mobile and whether we’re meeting up with our friends for lunch or we’re on the road, there are a few steps you’ll want to follow that’ll add to our own personal cybersecurity, including:
- Actively manage location services. As great as some of these features are, it can expose where you’re at (as in, not at home), even with your photos. Be sure to turn those services off when you’re not using them.
- Avoid sharing personal information or making any purchases on unsecure networks (think free or public Wi-Fi). Instead, use a private virtual network or use your phone as a personal hotspot to surf the Internet more securely.
- Share with care – always think twice before posting any pictures or any content that you would not want to go public or, worse, viral.
Now that you’ve got a few more things to add to your summer “to do” list, have fun and for the latest resources when it comes to enhancing your cybersecurity awareness, visit the Indiana Cyber Hub website and enjoy your summer!