October 24th, 2019 | Miller Advisors
Part of living in the digital era is understanding that our private information is more vulnerable than ever before. News stories about ID theft and data breaches abound, with the effects being felt by millions of consumers. And while companies and institutions are constantly working to protect themselves with increasing security measures, you can play a role in this fight as well.
“When you are aware of the risks, it may be much easier to protect yourself from hackers, viruses and malware.”
Why Cyber Security Affects Everyone
Cyber security doesn’t involve just businesses and the government. Your computer, tablet and cellphone probably contain information that hackers and other criminals would love to have, like other people’s email addresses, names and birthdates. Suppose, for example, a hacker had access to your contact information. He could then send an email or text message to everyone you know, using your name, encouraging them to click on a link containing malware, like “Hey Jane, I thought you’d love this! Click here.”
In a connected world, we each have a responsibility to protect ourselves and the people we interact with, and it all starts with understanding cyber security.
Understanding the Role of Cyber Security
Anything that relies on the internet for communication, or is connected to a computer or other smart device, can be affected by a breach in security. This includes:
Three Principles of Cyber Security
There are at least three main principles behind cyber security: confidentiality, integrity and availability.
What You Can Do
When you are aware of the risks, it may be much easier to protect yourself from hackers, viruses and malware. Here are four things you can start doing today to practice safe cyber security.
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Consider sharing this article with people you care about to help keep them – and yourself – safe from cyber threats.
Best Password Manager
Comments by Miller Advisors:
We have included a link to a Blog found online about Password Managers. Click here to read the article. We found this interesting and thought we would share it as a resource in protecting your passwords.
Jude Jones is the author and has reviewed 7 different password managers giving “likes” and “dislikes” of each as well as costs as of August 15, 2019.
For the best overview, we suggest reading the first part of the article, “Introduction” and “What is a password manager.” Then skip to the section, “How to choose a password manger” through the end of the article. Go back and read the reviews at the end so that they make more sense.
Disclaimer: The information posted to this blog was accurate at the time it was initially published. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. The information contained in the TransUnion blog is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. You should consult your own attorney or financial adviser regarding your particular situation. For complete details of any product mentioned, visit transunion.com. This site is governed by the TransUnion Interactive privacy policy located here.
Article Sources:
https://www.transunion.com/blog/identity-protection/why-is-cyber-security-important | Oct 20, 2017
https://bestantiviruspro.org/blog/best-password-manager | Aug 15, 2019 | Jude Jones
Photo Source: iStockPhoto.com