As a professor of technology and cybersecurity at the University of Southern Maine, I am often asked what someone should do to protect themselves given that cybersecurity attacks have accompanied the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are some suggestions for people and organizations to help be more vigilant and strengthen their cybersecurity posture.
1. Protect your accounts by changing passwords, not using the same password, using strong passwords, and enabling two-factor (2FA) authentication. A good password manager can help you do this task!
2. If you have accounts that offer biometrics, security passwords, code words, phrases, or security questions are as an option, please use them.
3. Refrain from sharing information and authenticating by short message services (SMS), commonly referred to as texts, and use authenticator apps or security hardware like a Yubikey.
4. Start using encrypted texting services like Signal.
5. Don’t click on links in text messages from unknown sources.
6. Don’t answer calls from numbers that you do not recognize. If it is essential, they will leave a message.
7. Take time to review bank and credit card statements for fraudulent activity periodically.
8. Take time to freeze your credit and still review your credit report from each bureau annually for accounts that you did not open.
9. Talk to the older adults in your life who may not understand tech and tell them that scams abound and there are people out there that will do anything to…