ITaP presents: The 12 Days of Cybersecurity, to keep you safe this holiday season and beyond

During the holiday season, all you want to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the time off with family and friends. For scammers and hackers, however, this time of year is a gold mine as millions of dollars in transactions take place online and off.

Now’s the time to be asking if your passwords are unique and strong or if you’re using only credit cards for online purchases, among other things. ITaP offers 12 easy steps you can take to make sure your holidays are happy by securing your accounts and breaking bad habits that put your information at risk.

They make good New Year’s resolutions, too.

The 12 Days of Cybersecurity

On the 1st day of Cybersecurity, ITaP gave to me… a warning against a phishing attempt. Scammers pretending to be Purdue leaders have been sending emails asking the recipients to purchase gift cards. Before responding, contact the person directly and check whether they actually made the request.

On the 2nd day of Cybersecurity, ITaP gave to me … a safe way to shop online. Avoid online shopping on public Wi-Fi networks. Hackers with little technology expertise can intercept your name and credit card information. Make sure you do your online shopping with a secured connection.

On the 3rd day of Cybersecurity, ITaP gave to me… a tax tip for the New Year. Finish tax returns early to reduce the risk of fraudulent returns being submitted in your name. The longer you wait to prepare your taxes, the more opportunities scammers have. Only one return can be submitted for each social security number.

On the 4th day of Cybersecurity, ITaP gave to me… a sure way to delete files. Just putting files into your “Trash” or “Recycle Bin” does not actually get rid of them. Follow steps to completely erase a file so attackers cannot access your information.

On the 5th day of Cybersecurity, ITaP gave to me... buying gifts without getting hacked. Keep an eye out for email scams like special discounts and offers – make sure you confirm who the email was sent from or avoid opening it at all. It could infect your computer with a link or attachment containing a virus.

On the 6th day of Cybersecurity, ITaP gave to me… BoilerKey, Purdue’s two-factor authentication. It’s an extra security step, but it's the best way to secure your personal data and all Purdue-related information. Secure other sites you use, too, if they offer a version of two-factor authentication.

On the 7th day of Cybersecurity, ITaP gave to me… a reminder to keep devices clean. The best thing you can do for your information is back it up and keep your operating system and security software up-to-date.

On the 8th day of Cybersecurity, ITaP gave to me… an easy way to reduce fraud. Create strong passwords! Make sure you use a complex set of uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers. Every site you use should have a different password. Using a password manager is a good way to deploy unique, strong passwords for each account.

On the 9th day of Cybersecurity, ITaP gave to me... a warning about what to post on social media. Don’t post about long vacations or other times you won’t be home. Criminals are looking for empty homes to break into, so posting about your time away can be risky.

On the 10th day of Cybersecurity, ITaP gave to me… advice when shopping for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. When searching for IoT devices and connected toys, be wary of possible risks, consider the pros and cons of popular connected gear that's on your shopping list.

On the 11th day of Cybersecurity, ITaP gave to me… a forgotten fact about the IRS. In recent years, people have been answering calls, texts, and messages on social media about owing the IRS money. The IRS will NEVER contact you through anything but the U.S. Postal Service.

On the 12th day of Cybersecurity, ITaP gave to me… a way to keep your holiday packages safe. “Porch pirates” go to neighborhoods and apartments looking for packages to steal; millions fall victim each year. To keep your packages safe, follow these tips: https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-porch-pirates-package-protection-20171204-story.html.

For more cybersecurity tips, visit ITaP on Facebook and Twitter. For more information on cybersecurity and free anti-virus software, visit the SecurePurdue website.

Last updated: December 6, 2018