What goes through your mind when you see a sign for ‘Free Wifi’ in an airport, train or your favorite local café? Is it something along the lines of “Yes Please! ‘Terms & Conditions’? No thanks *Clicks Connect*”?
It’s okay; for better or for worse, this seems to be the world in which we now live. Consider this: with the click of a button, we can instantly connect to another human being on the other side of the globe! It’s only natural that we get excited any time we find easy {free} access to this digital life line.
No matter which way you slice it, innovation has made modern digital technology an indispensable tool; but like any tool, it has its intended uses which are constructive… and whole host of ways in which it can be misused to wreak havoc.
Last month, I had the distinct pleasure of speaking on the ‘Cybersecurity in the Workplace’ Breakfast Briefing panel, hosted by the Greater Baltimore Committee. Speaking alongside Dave Hartman of Hartman Executive Advisors and Ryan LaSalle of Accenture Security, we took a deep dive into cybersecurity in the workplace and what businesses need to know to help keep their company’s data safe.
Donald Fry (GBC), Robert Wallace (BithGroup Technologies), Dave Hartman ( Hartman Advisors), Ryan LaSalle (Accenture) at Greater Baltimore Committee Cyber Security Event
If you recall, in May of 2019, the city of Baltimore fell victim to a devastating ransomware attack. Director of the Baltimore City IT department, Frank Johnson, confirmed that the city’s computers were infected with a “very aggressive” form of ransomware called “RobinHood,” which locks up or holds city files for ransom until money is paid to the hackers responsible for the malware. Hackers set a price of three Bitcoins (about $24,000) to unlock each city system, or 13 Bitcoins (about $102,000) to unlock all systems. This incident of ‘Digital Terrorism’ is just one of many that we’re beginning to see around the world and to be honest, its scary.
Data protection for large corporations and governments is at the forefront of conversation among top Cyber Security professionals BUT there are some things you can do today to increase the security of your personal information.
8 Simple Tips to Better Protect Yourself Against Cyber Crimes
1. Use Anti-Virus software
2. Install firewalls, pop up blockers, and keep your operating system up to date
3. Uninstall unnecessary software
4. Maintain a full system backup
5. Monitor your security settings and make sure you understand what they mean
6. Always use secure connections
7. Open attachments carefully
8. Use strong passwords and don’t give personal information unless required
To be clear, at this point, the only guaranteed secure option is to literally cut the cord and unplug. If that sounds a bit too drastic of a measure, there is still hope! Simply put: Pay Attention. Act Smart.
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