Is It Time for a Cyber Hygiene Checkup?

Every day we shower and brush our teeth – two important hygienic activities, but how’s your cyber hygiene? That’s just like brushing your teeth - but for your online life.

Want to stay as safe as possible from hackers on the internet? Good cyber hygiene habits are a fundamental part of good cybersecurity, so let’s examine some easy ways to stay safe online in 2025.

What do you mean by cyber hygiene?

It’s similar to the way good personal hygiene helps your body last longer. The care you give to your online stuff is what Cyber hygiene is all about – both physically, like keeping your devices clean, and in terms of best practices that keep your data safe and protected. Washing your hands kills germs. Good cyber behavior kills digital germs like viruses and hackers.

Why is cyber hygiene important?

Cybercriminals are constantly coming up with new tricks designed to steal your info or damage your gadgets. Good cyber hygiene stops them by keeping your stuff private and your devices working well.

What are the pillars of cyber hygiene?

The main components of good cyber hygiene:

Changing your passwords – and making sure they are strong
Scanning for viruses using antivirus software
Keeping apps, software, and operating systems up to date
Periodically wiping your hard drive.

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

Create Long Passwords

The longer the password, the harder it is to crack. It doesn’t have to be all that complex – you can use something as simple as a sentence. For example, “I love eating pizza on Fridays!” or “My dog likes his belly rubbed” are good, serviceable passwords.

For those who prefer traditional passwords, a good practice is using different types of characters. Mix in numbers, symbols, and both big and small letters. Substitute symbols for letters, like “I<3E@tingPizz@0nFriday$!”

Please refer to IT Support LA’s page: Creating Strong Passwords.

Don’t Be Lazy and Reuse Passwords!

Every account or app should have its own unique password. When you reuse passwords, hackers only have to crack one to get all of them.

2) Scanning for viruses: For Windows users, Microsoft Defender automatically conducts regular automatic scans, as do most anti-virus software.

3) Update Your Software: This can also be set up to run automatically whenever updates are available. Updating your software is like getting a flu shot. It protects you from new threats.

Updates usually fix problems in your software. These are holes that bad guys can use to get in. Updating closes these holes. They can also give you cool new stuff that makes your apps may work better or do more things.

Very importantly, the updates frequently include security patches that guard against newly discovered threats.

4) Wiping your hard drive: This helps ensure that unnecessary but sensitive data is securely deleted, preventing potential breaches if the device is lost, stolen, or repurposed, and it also helps to keep your system running efficiently.

Use 2FA or MFA

Two-factor authentication (2FA) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) are crucial – like adding extra locks to your door. It makes it harder for bad guys to break in – a crucial factor in robust cybersecurity measures.

2FA needs two things to prove it’s you, whereas MFA can use more. Usually, one thing is your password. The second thing is often a code sent to your phone. For MFA, the third might be biometric (fingerprint, retinal scan, etc.).

With either authentication method, it doesn’t matter if someone steals your password, they still can’t get in because they don’t have the second thing (your phone) or the third (your fingerprint). It’s much safer.

You should use 2FA/MFA on all your important accounts, including email, banking, and even social media.

Beware of Public Wi-Fi!

Hackers will actually park outside of a Starbuck’s to tap into its patrons’ devices. Use a VPN (virtual private network). It’s like a secret tunnel to the internet. It encrypts and keeps your information private, even on public Wi-Fi.

Do NOT Use Public Wi-Fi for Sensitive Tasks

Don’t do banking or shopping on public Wi-Fi. Wait until you’re on a safe network.

Turn Off Auto-Connect

If you want to connect to a public W1-Fi, do it manually. Don’t let your device automatically connect to any Wi-Fi network by itself. It might connect to a fake, bad network.

Learn To Spot Phishing Scams

The most common method of cyber-attack, phishing is when a bad guy tries to trick you into giving away your information. It’s like a fake fisherman trying to catch you. Here’s how to avoid the hook:

Verify the Sender
Look closely at who sent the message. Scammers often use names that look real but aren’t.

Never EVER Click Suspicious Links or Attachments

If a link looks weird or is puzzling, don’t click it. Hover your mouse over it to see where it really goes.

Be Cautious with ‘Urgent’ Messages

Crooks want a knee-jerk reaction from you, so they often say you need to act fast. Real companies rarely do this.

Regularly Back Up Your Data

This is typically a job for your IT Support team. Backing up is like making copies of your important papers. If something bad happens, you don’t lose everything. For example, if you do fall for a Ransomware scan, backups are critical. You can wipe infected devise clean, then restore your data from the backups.

Also, if you delete something by mistake, they will still be in your backups.

For Good Backups, Use the 3-2-1 Rule

Keep 3 copies of your data, on 2 different types of storage (like your hard drive and a NAS or SAN device), and keep 1 copy off-site, on an external hard drive or better yet: in the cloud.

Regularly Review Your Privacy Settings

Privacy settings are like curtains on your windows. They let you control what others see. Check them often, at least every few months. Write it down so you don’t forget.

Trim Your Accounts

Don’t forget about old accounts. If you don’t use them, close them.

Limit What You Share

The less you share, the safer you are, so only share what you need to.

Teach Your Family or Employees About Cyber Safety

Cyber safety is for everyone at work or in your family. It’s like teaching kids to look both ways before crossing the street. Here’s how to spread the knowledge:

Whether for work or at home, make it fun by using games or telling stories to teach about cyber safety. It’s easier to remember that way. For work, institute regular Security Awareness Training.

Set a Good Example

Make sure you practice what you preach. Show good cyber habits to your family or employees and use them yourself. They learn by watching you.

Be Open and Frank About Online Experiences

Initiate conversation and have open talks about what happens online. That helps keep everyone safe.