Get involve Protecting Critical Infrastructure. Here’s how to be part of the solution.

I’ve got this from email from DHS encouraging us to be part of this cyber security initiative.

Our Nation’s critical infrastructure runs on the Internet. The systems that enable us to live our daily lives – the electrical systems, financial institutions, transportation systems, and more – are all dependent upon a digital ecosystem. As cyber breaches continue to rise in frequency and scale, it is critical for all Americans to understand their role and take steps to protect our critical infrastructure.

Simple TIPS
Each day, people connect to the Nation’s critical infrastructure without even realizing it
from their smart phones, tablets, and computers. Here are some practical ways to do your part in helping secure our critical infrastructure by protecting your devices that connect to critical infrastructure systems and practicing safe online habits.

• Keep a clean machine. Keep the security software, operating system, and web browser on your devices updated. Keeping the software on your devices up to date will prevent attackers from being able to take advantage of known vulnerabilities. It is simple to run, just a click to do update. For example in Windows operating system, set up your Windows Security Update to automatically run for you.
• Enable stronger authentication. Always enable stronger authentication for an extra layer of security beyond the password that is available on most major email, social media and financial accounts. Stronger authentication (e.g., multi-factor authentication that can use a one-time code texted to a mobile device) helps verify that a user has authorized access to an online account. Almost everyone are have their own smart phone, use it to add extra layer of security to access your account “something you have” and apply it to for your social media authentication, banks and other online accounts. If they offer Two-Factor authentication, highly recommended to use it. For more information about authentication, visit the new Lock Down Your Login Campaign at www.lockdownyourlogin.com.
• When in doubt, throw it out. Links in email and online posts are often the way cyber criminals compromise your mobile devices. If it looks suspicious—even if you know the source—it’s best to delete or, if appropriate, mark it as ”junk email.” If you don’t know about it, delete it right away. If something fishy about the email, don’t hesitate to delete it.
• Make your passwords long & strong. Use complex passwords with a combination
  of numbers, symbols, and letters. Use unique passwords for different accounts. For example, MyD0g1s4w3s0m3!$#.
• Secure your Wi-Fi network. Your home’s wireless router is the gateway entrance for cybercriminals to access all of your connected devices. Secure your Wi-Fi network, and your digital devices, by changing the factory-set default password and username. Most modern WIFI router requires password before you can connect to the network, to make it more difficult you can also activate MAC enrollment as another layer of security. Basically, enrolling all devices before they can connect to your home network. An extra work to make a better security. If you’re done it, your one of the geek.

Help secure the Internet. Share this information with your family and friends. Post in your social media feeds.

Source: https://www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect

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