MONROE, La., Nov. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Retail
Federation predicts online sales during the 2019 winter holidays
will increase between 11% and 14% from 2018, totaling between
$162.6 billion and $166.9 billion. Cyber Monday, on December 2, is sure to bring deals on hot new
tech items like iPhone 11, Nintendo Switch Lite and Amazon
Echo.
But before consumers logon and risk their data, Chris Betz, Chief Security Officer at
CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL), wants to remind families of the
safety rules that help keep their personal information secure at
home this holiday season. Here are general best practices from the
CenturyLink family to yours:
Your passwords should be as secretive as Santa
- Don't use default names or passwords on your home/work
internet-connected devices.
-
- This includes routers, modems, gaming systems and other smart
devices.
- Having a strong password is akin to locking your car or house
door.
- Don't choose "password," "12345" or your pet's name. It is very
easy for criminals to peruse social media and find the names of
people, and pets, close to you.
-
- Pick a mix of letters, symbols and numbers. Think "passphrase"
rather than "password" – example: I Like @pple p1e (I Like Apple
Pie)
- Consider adopting a password manager to make it easier to track
your unique passwords for each service.
Phishing scammers are naughty, so don't be nice to
them!
- Beware of phishing emails, which account for more than 90
percent of cyberattacks (according to Cofense) because phishing
tactics are becoming highly sophisticated.
-
- Never click a link to an outside site sent to you by email,
even if you recognize the company or individual. Go through your
internet search browser to reach the site.
- Don't forget how searchable and permanent social media can
be.
-
- Look at your profile with fresh eyes. What kinds of clues and
information are you sharing that may give criminals clues to
accessing your information? Share wisely and remember, once you've
shared something digitally, it can be shared again.
- Review your account security settings often to be sure you are
sharing what you want with who you want. It's also important to
review who has access to your data.
- Think about where you can use two-factor authentication. With
tools like Google Authenticator or a simple text message, you can
elevate the difficulty of a third party accessing your
account.
Don't pout or cry -- Stay protected while connected
- Update your devices and systems with software patches.
- Research your IoT purchases, such as smart home assistants,
smart door locks, and internet-connected security cameras and
applications before you buy. Read the fine print about how and
where your personal information is stored and shared.
- Be wary of public Wi-Fi.
-
- Don't join an unknown Wi-Fi hotspot; set up your own. Bad
actors are known to create hotspots in public places like coffee
shops and airports to intercept traffic and inject malware.
- Always check with the establishment to ensure you're joining
the right Wi-Fi network.
- Don't enable features you don't need or use, such as Bluetooth.
It's another vehicle for bad actors to intercept traffic. If you
rarely use Bluetooth devices, leaving it disabled by default is a
good idea. Also, be sure to keep your Bluetooth firmware up to date
through patching.
Chris Betz is available for
op-eds, interviews, and other thought leadership pieces on best
security practices on Cyber Monday and throughout the holiday
season.
Additional Resources
- Cybersecurity best practices: https://staysafeonline.org/
About CenturyLink
CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is a
technology leader delivering hybrid networking, cloud connectivity
and security solutions to customers around the world. Through its
extensive global fiber network, CenturyLink provides secure and
reliable services to meet the growing digital demands of businesses
and consumers. CenturyLink strives to be the trusted connection to
the networked world and is focused on delivering technology that
enhances the customer experience. Learn more
at http://news.centurylink.com/.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/americans-to-spend-nearly-170-billion-online-this-holiday-season-300964239.html
SOURCE CenturyLink, Inc.