116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
From The Bureau: Give yourself a Spring digital makeover
Taking time to clear out digital data clutter is important piece to protecting information
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The weather is warming in some parts of the country, inspiring people to clean up or clear the clutter. The one area that many overlook isn't the corner of a room or a forgotten closet; it's the digital device possibly being used to read this article. We use our phones to shop, scroll through social media, bank and work. The National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCSA) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) remind everyone that when clearing out the physical clutter, there's probably lots of digital data clutter that lives on your electronic devices.
As many businesses and their employees are still working from home, focusing on cybersecurity and protecting sensitive information is critical. NCSA has advice on how to keep your private information.
Dedicate some time to conduct a digital makeover. Taking simple, proactive steps will go a long way in safeguarding against potentially disruptive issues — like identity theft, loss of funds, or credit card fraud, all of which can cause mayhem by compromising personally identifying data. Take the time to practice these precautionary measures and gain some peace of mind — not only this spring but all year-round.
NCSA and the BBB encourage people to check their smartphones, laptops and tablets then take a few minutes to review these tips. Accept the fact that protecting your identity is largely in your own hands.
- Lock down your login: Security is critical to protecting accounts used for work and home. Ensure passphrases for each account are lengthy, unique and safe. Enable 2-factor authentication on all accounts that offer it. Also, review account permissions and remove apps that no longer need access.
- Update your system and software: Avoid procrastination! The most current software, web browsers and operating systems are some of the easiest and fastest ways to protect your most sensitive assets.
- Back it up: Protect sensitive personal and workplace data by making electronic copies — or backups — of your most important files. Use the 3-2-1 rule to help guide you: 3 backup copies, two different media types and one offline in a separate location.
- Clean up your online presence: When did you last use all the apps on your phone or tablet? Do you know the settings on all social media accounts that check in with friends and family? Check up on all accounts and control your role by ensuring that you know who has administrative access to those accounts. Keep all passwords private and safely stored. Remove old files, duplicate photos and downloads that are not needed. Also, clean up old emails and messages. Unsubscribe from spam emails and delete or archive old emails to keep the inbox manageable and organized.
- Be careful what you share: Quizzes on social media are fun, and keeping in touch is necessary. However, questions online mean divulging what might be too much personal and family information.
In addition to following the above-listed tips, small business owners should take time to establish, update and communicate policies and procedures around topics like record retention. It is also imperative that a cybersecurity strategy is in place and used by all employees.
We often think of identity theft as a serious problem that affects individuals, but businesses are also at risk. Criminals can steal a business's identity by gaining access to financial or other sensitive information. They also have a variety of ways, including hacking, malware, phishing emails, swiping credit card info or even as far as finding old sensitive documents that have been improperly discarded. Businesses should be vigilant about this issue and constantly ensuring they are doing all they can to protect their own and their customers' sensitive information.
Bobby Hansen is regional director for the Better Business Bureau Cedar Rapids office. Comments: (319) 365-1190; info@dm.bbb.org
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