The Town of Windsor Information Technology (IT) Department prioritizes cybersecurity and has a dedicated team of professionals working to keep town information and networks secure. As part of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, residents are encouraged to take steps to secure their devices and private information at home.
In a collaborative effort with Stop Think Connect, a government sponsored online safety awareness campaign, the following 5 tips are offered to help residents protect their online presence:
1. Create unique passwords for important accounts such as email or online banking. Try to make passwords 10 or more characters long including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Write down passwords and store them in a safe place away from the computer, phone or tablet.
2. Do not open emails or click on links that look suspicious. They may contain a computer virus or be an attempt to hijack personal information.
3. Use authentication tools for online accounts when available. This creates an extra line of defense, beyond the input of a username and password, and helps ensure that the person attempting to log in is the legitimate user. One example of this type of two-step authentication is retrieval of a onetime login code from a personal cellphone or email.
4. Delete unused apps on phones and tablets, and review the privacy and data collection information for the regularly utilized apps. Sometimes, users can limit the amount and type of information being accessed by apps such as location or photos.
5. Use social media wisely. Ask before tagging someone in a photo or sharing their location in a post. Review profile friends or followers from time to time to make sure they are people with whom you still wish to share your information.
For more information and cybersecurity tips, visit stopthinkconnect.org.