Since 2004, the month of October has been declared Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a dedicated month to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity.

With our lives being more digitally involved than ever before, the importance of staying informed and proactive is becoming increasingly relevant. The ongoing and evolving threat of online fraud could affect us all and we have a collective responsibility to safeguard our digital assets and personal information.

While they may seem obvious to some, four simple steps can go a long way to ensuring we stay safe online at home, work and school.

Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are long, random, unique and include all four character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols). Password managers are a powerful tool to help you create strong passwords for each of your accounts.

Turn On MFA
Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) is a multi-step account login process that requires users to enter more information than just a password. MFA makes you significantly less likely to get hacked. Enable MFA on all your online accounts that offer it, especially email, social media and financial accounts.

Recognise & Report Phishing
Be cautious of unsolicited messages asking for personal information. Avoid sharing sensitive information or credentials with unknown sources. Report phishing attempts and delete the message.

Update Software
Ensuring software is up to date is the best way to make sure you have the latest security patches and updates on your devices. Regularly check for updates if automatic updates are not available.

While Cybersecurity Awareness Month serves as a great reminder, MultiFreight strongly recommend using it as an opportunity to review your online safety with the above steps in mind.