Welcome to 2025! As you plan for the year ahead, don’t forget to add staying cybersafe to your list of resolutions. To help you get started, here are a few resolutions to keep you and Houston Methodist secure.
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Lock your screen when away. Protect your screen from unauthorized access. Locking your screen when you’re away prevents unauthorized access to your device, protecting sensitive information from being viewed, altered or stolen, especially in shared or public spaces.
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Throw away your USB drives and move to the cloud for storage. Cloud storage offers greater security, scalability and accessibility compared to USB drives. It protects your data with encryption, reduces the risk of physical loss or damage and allows seamless access from anywhere with an internet connection.
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Secure your devices with antivirus software. Antivirus software protects your devices from viruses, malware and other cyberthreats. It ensures your devices remain secure and functional.
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Audit your digital presence. Take a moment to review your online accounts, including shopping sites, social media and streaming services. If you find accounts you no longer use, deactivate/delete them to help reduce your digital footprint and avoid misuse. Check the privacy settings on the ones you keep.
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Limit the personal info you share online. Be mindful of any information you share on social media and other platforms. Cybercriminals often use publicly available information for social engineering attacks, where they pretend to be someone you know, your employer or even a business you’ve interacted with.
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Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions. When accessing sensitive information (like banking sites), avoid using public Wi-Fi or hotspots. It’s best to use your mobile data connection, or if you know how to set one up, use a virtual private network or VPN.
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Exercise caution when using artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Before uploading sensitive or confidential information to AI tools such as ChatGPT, think of the potential risks. Avoid using untrusted or unsecured platforms, check their policies around sharing your data, and be mindful of what you share.
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Secure your Wi-Fi network. Your home Wi-Fi is like a gateway to all your devices and the data they hold. Change your default router password to something stronger, and enable WPA3 encryption if your router supports it.
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Back up your data regularly. Never wait for a cyberattack or hardware failure to learn the importance of backing up your data. You can back up important files on the cloud, or invest in an external hard drive for extra security.
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Report suspicious activity immediately. Detect and address any security breaches promptly. Report any suspicious cyberactivity immediately by clicking the Report Phish button. Reporting helps protect our patient data and systems from potential threats.
For more tips, read below, head to The HUB, or click this link.
