Adopt These IT Tips To Stay Secure Online

Cyber Security

You regularly service your car but how often do you look at your IT environment and keep that up to date and secure?

Good cyber habits help keep you safe from hackers on the internet. Let us check some easy ways to stay safe online in 2025.

What is Cyber Hygiene?

Cyber hygiene means the care you give to your online stuff, this includes keeping your devices and information clean and safe. Washing your hands stops germs and good cyber behaviour stops digital germs like viruses and hackers.

Why is Cyber Hygiene Important?

Criminals online always try new tricks to get your info or mess up your gadgets. Good cyber hygiene helps stops them by keeping your stuff private and your devices working well.

How Can You Improve Your Passwords?

Passwords are like keys to your online home. You want them to be strong. Here are some tips:

Use Long and Complex Passphrases

Longer passwords are harder to guess. Try using a sentence. For example, “I love eating pizza every Friday!” is a good password.

Mix it Up

Use different types of characters. Mix in numbers, symbols, and both big and small letters. “I<3EatingPizza0nFridays!” is even better.

Don’t Reuse Passwords

Don’t reuse passwords between accounts. To help you remember them all, use a password manager. With unique passwords, if someone manages to steal one, all of your other accounts stay safe.

Update Your Operating System and Software?

Updating your software is like getting a flu or COVID shot. It helps protects you from new threats. Here are some reasons why it is important:

Fix Security Holes

Updates usually fix security problems in your software. These are holes are found after the software has been released and are used by the bad guys to get in to your systems. Updating closes these holes.

Get New Features

Updates can also give you new and improved features. Your apps may work better, quicker or do more things.

Update Your Other Devices Too!

Hardware devices like routers, switches and firewalls all need to be updated regularly too. So do not forget to also regularly keep these devices up to date too.

Set Automatic Updates

Turn on automatic updates when you can. Then you do not have to remember to do it.

Implement Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (also know as 2FA and MFA – multi factor authentication) is like putting two locks on your door and it makes it harder for bad guys to break in. Here’s how 2FA works:

What is 2FA?

2FA needs two things to prove it is you. Usually, one thing is your password and the second thing is usually a code on an authenticator app on your phone. SMS messages with the code can also be used but are not recommended as these SMS codes are fairly straight forward to compromise.

Why Use 2FA?

If someone steals your password, they still can not get in as they do not have access to the second thing (ie the code on your authenticator app). Thus it is much safer and is the easiest thing to improve your online safety significantly.

Where to Use 2FA

Use 2FA on all your online accounts, including email, banking, social media, shopping, work, government etc..

Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi?

Public Wi-Fi can be very dangerous as it is like yelling in a crowded place where anyone can listen in. Our recommendation is not to use public wifi, rather you should use your own 4G / 5G modem or connect to your mobile phone.

If you have to use a public wifi connection here are some ways to help you stay safe:

Using a VPN

A VPN is like a secret tunnel to the internet. It keeps encrypts all your data and makes it private. Do not use a free VPN service though.

Avoid Sensitive Tasks

Do not do banking or other sensitive work on a public Wi-Fi network. Rather wait until you are on a safe network to do anything sensitive.

Turn Off Auto-Connect

Do not let your device automatically connect to any Wi-Fi network by itself. It might at a later time connect to a fake, bad network without your knowledge.

How To Identify Phishing Scams?

Phishing is when a bad guy tries to trick you into giving away your information. It is like a fake fisherman trying to catch you. Here’s how to avoid the hook:

Check the Sender

Look closely at who sent the message. Scammers often use names that look real but are not. Check the domain and make sure it matches who you think it is from and there are no spelling errors. Even if the email address matches, be cautious as email addresses can easily be faked. The sender may even be legitimate but has been hacked so if in doubt ring the sender.

Don’t Click Suspicious Link

If a link looks weird, don’t click it. Move your mouse over it to see where it really goes and check for any spelling mistake and confirm it is the actual company’s website. If in doubt manually go to the website or ring the person to confirm.

Be Wary of Urgent or Unexpected Messages

Scammers often say you need to act fast as they are trying to get you to click on links or do things without having time to properly think about them. Are you also expecting a message from the person? If it is unexpected or the text doesn’t sound right, ring the person or company to confirm.

Are You Backing Up Your Data?

Backing up is essential as it protects your data if the unthinkable happens. Here are some reasons why it is important:

Recover from Accidents

We all have lapses in concentration and delete things by mistake. Backups let you get the data back.

Protect Against Ransomware

Ransomware can encrypt or delete your files. With backups you can easily get your data back and tell the bad guys to go away!

Hardware Failures

Computer equipment is known to die or stop working at the most inopportune time. Having a backup allows you to fix the problem and then recover your data in the quickest possible way.

Use the 3-2-1 Rule

Keep 3 copies of your data, on 2 different types of storage, with 1 copy off-site. Do not have all copies of your backup connected online at the same time.

How Often Should You Review Your Privacy Settings?

Your privacy settings are like curtains on your windows as they let you control what others see, so check them often:

Check All Your Accounts

Do not forget about old or rarely used accounts. If you do not use them anymore, close them down and delete them.

Limit What You Share

Only share what you need to. The less you share, the safer and more secure you are.

Schedule It

Check your privacy settings every few months. Schedule it in your calendar as a reoccurring appointment so you don’t forget.

Are You Teaching Your Staff About Cyber Safety?

Cyber safety is for everyone in your business. Here are some ways on how to spread the knowledge:

Cyber Security Awareness Training

Sing up to a proper cyber security awareness training service and get all your staff to participate (including management).

Make it Fun

Use games or tell stories to teach about cyber safety. It is easier to remember that way and other people find it easier to relate to stories.

Lead by Example

Demonstrate good cyber habits to your staff. They learn by watching you so make sure owners / managers all participate.

Talk About Online Experiences

Have open talks about what happens online and allow others to share their experiences. This keeps everyone interested and helps improve your businesses security.

Want to Level Up Your Cyber Hygiene?

Good cyber hygiene protects you from online bad guys. Use strong passwords, backup your data, avoid phishing scams, update your software, operating systems and equipment, and avoid public Wi-Fi.

Want to know more about staying safe online? We can help! Contact us for more help on cyber hygiene. Let us make your online life easier and safer together!