Your 6 Point Personal Cybersecurity Checklist For 2020

It’s an increasingly connected world out there, but that convenience comes at a cost. Cyber threats are on the rise, but you’re probably unaware of just how much you’re putting at risk every time you plug in, power up, and log on.

Complacency and a lack of awareness mean you’re much more likely to be the target of a hack, breach, or cyber attack. You’ve probably heard these terms used about big businesses and corporations. Think Google, Facebook, or Yahoo. So much so it’s easy to forget that most victims are your average, everyday user.

Yes, that’s you!

Boosting your online security starts with taking the issue seriously. It’s more than just adding an Exclamation Mark! to your password or deleting emails from Nigerian princes. Those things might make you feel better, but a false sense of security won’t keep you secure online.

Here’s what you should be doing to stay safe in 2020:

1. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Speaking of a false sense of security, Two-Factor Authentication has become the defacto cyber-security comfort blanket in recent years. Many users treat it as a one-and-done solution for staying secure, but it’s safe to say if that’s all you’re relying on, well, you’re doing it wrong.

Two-Factor Authentication adds an extra layer of protection when accessing your online accounts, with services like Google and Facebook adding it to their services over the last few years. While it should never be the only thing you do to protect your online accounts, it’s still an important step.

Just make sure you tick off a few others items in this list alongside it.

2. Change Your Passwords (& Keep Them Unique)

It’s the thing you’re meant to do, but never actually get around to doing. It’s also the thing you’re still unlikely to do even after reading this article. We get it, it’s difficult enough to remember your current password let alone two…or three…or four?

Throw in having to change it every 30 days, and it’s easier to let it be.

That’s also precisely what hackers are counting on. Having your account breached feels like one of those ‘It’ll never happen to me!’ things until, well, it happens to you. At which point it’s too late. It’s even scarier when you consider 59% of people use the same password across multiple accounts.

Thankfully there are several applications, plugins, and extensions available these days such as LastPass or 1Password, which make it easy to ensure your password is unique, up-to-date, and forever changing.

3. Avoid Public WiFi Networks Where Possible

“Glory to the holy WiFi!” shouts one of the lead characters in director Bong Joon-Ho’s latest film, Parasite. While cybersecurity may not have much in common with the esteemed director’s tense, family-fueled drama, the near life-giving force of WiFi is a normal part of modern life.

Is there WiFi? What’s the WiFi Password?! The only thing better than WiFi these days is free WiFi. But like most things in life that are free, it’s probably too good to be true. We hate to break it to you, but public WiFi networks are a cyber attacker’s dream come true.

You might have your personal and work WiFi locked down better than a high-security prison. Still, you can hardly expect mom and pop cafes or public libraries to understand how to change the default router password or patch out a network security flaw with a firmware update.

Compromised networks present a litany of issues, where hackers can listen in and intercept all incoming and outgoing traffic sent via the network. So if you’re on the go and need to get online, consider alternatives like tethering to your mobile service.

Just make sure it’s secure.

Otherwise, you’re starting the cycle all over again.

4. Check If You’ve Been Pwned

Prevention is better than a cure, but it isn’t always practical.

Two-factor Authentication and updating your password is all well and good, but if your information has already been taken, it won’t do you much good.

Have I Been Pwned lets users know if their accounts have been compromised in any data breaches to-date by checking sites like Pastebin; the go-to source of publicly dumped private information stolen in hacks and breaches.

The process is simple. Just plug in your email address, hit go, and the site will let you know which significant breaches you’ve been a victim of, while also emailing you any time your information shows up in the future.

5. Don’t Trust Your IoT Devices

They’ve breached smart toasters. They’ve compromised self-starting vacuums. They’ve even hacked Ring, the smart camera system that’s supposed to help keep you safe, not put your security at risk.

Hackers are the reason we can’t have nice things. The utopian promise of an automated, connected future is fast becoming a dystopian mess where hackers are accessing poorly thought out IoT devices and turning them into surveillance systems and going on to sell the information to the highest bidder.

So while the idea of that smart toaster might sound like a good idea, do a little searching before you invest in something that could well be putting your security at risk. 

6. Always Double-Check Your (Email) Sources

You’re as sick of hearing about it as you are passwords, but there’s a good reason it keeps making lists like these: every year scammers go Phishing, and every year they pull in a record catch. It’s that simple.

In part, it’s because they’re getting better at what they do. Gone are the days of blatantly fake emails. Instead, you’re looking at emails that are near-indistinguishable from the real thing. It would be impressive if it weren’t so evil.

They’re also finding new ways to circumvent common warning signs. This includes things like using the hacked email addresses of your friends, family, or work colleagues to send you files, links, or login forms that steal your data or hijack your computer.

This is just one of the reasons email remains one of the most widely used yet insecure methods for sharing information. Try to avoid it where possible, and if you do need to use it? Keep an eye out. A little paranoia can go a long way to securing your online presence. 

Further lock things down with these extra steps.

Ticked those off the list? Consider taking things a few steps further to stay secure this year:

• Avoid logging in to your accounts on other peoples’ devices.
• Try not to share login information with other people.
• Ensure your personal devices are locked with a pin code, fingerprint, or facial recognition.

Consider using a VPN, but make sure you choose the right one