Hosted by Cybercrime Support Network Erich Kron from KnowBe4.
Thank you to all of those who participated in last week’s #CybercrimeChat, hosted in honor of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. A special thank you to Erich Kron, our featured guest, for his wonderful insight! With 226 conversations and a potential reach of 311K, last week’s #CybercrimeChat was a success! As always, these chats are made worthwhile because of the thought-provoking, informative participant responses! Thank you all for sharing your tips and resources to help others #BeCyberSmart. We’ve collected a few highlights from the chat…
Q1 – According to a recent study conducted by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, more cyberattacks occurred in the first half of 2020 than in all of 2019. That’s a 154% increase in cyberattacks! What factors contributed to this huge increase?
A1a Change, uncertainty, lack of communication – these things colliding from both a personal and professional perspective created the perfect storm for criminals to take advantage. Plus, lets not forget all the criminals ended up WFH too! #CybercrimeChat #BeCyberSmart
— Javvad Malik v2.0 (@J4vv4D) October 14, 2020
A1: It seems that #COVID has led to a resurgence of many traditional scam types. We’ve gotten reports at our Helpline of an increase in tech scams, phishing scams, among others. Lots of folks working from home, on new technologies, and scammers likely know this. #CybercrimeChat
— AARP Fraud Watch Network (@aarpfraudwatch) October 14, 2020
Q2 – This week’s theme is “Securing Devices at Home and Work”. Since work-from-home has become part of the “new normal”, how has device security been impacted?
A2: In many cases when people had to work from home, hardware was not available. There was a shortage of laptops, webcams, etc. so many people had to use their own devices. These are rarely as secure as corporate devices and lack critical controls. #CybercrimeChat #BeCyberSmart https://t.co/CEyFCqpHfr
— Madsqu1rrel (@ErichKron) October 14, 2020
Q3 – It can be easy to forget all of the ways in which we are digitally connected. IoT/smart-home gadgets are an example of devices that you may forget to secure. How can we be sure the tech in our home is safe?
A3: The best way to stay up-to-date on the latest cybersecurity issues in your home is to be proactive. Learn all you can about your devices & be aware of what liabilities may exist. That way you can make the right choices for you & your family to #BeCyberSmart. #CybercrimeChat https://t.co/DP3t4Au73P
— WU Consumer Protection (@WUStopFraud) October 14, 2020
Sadly, you can’t be sure. You can:
– use resources like the https://t.co/OUDkTl2qnE to help take key steps
– always, always change default passwords
– always, always turn on autoupdating if possible#CybercrimeChat https://t.co/S9twtcH28D— Phil Reitinger, Principle Engineer (@CarpeDiemCyber) October 14, 2020
Q4 – Updating software is an important part of securing our devices. How does outdated software put us at risk?
A3: Vigilance is your best defense! Your device’s line of defense is compromised by #phishing schemes, weak passwords & outdated software. Know the signs of a “phishy’ email, change your passwords often, and update when prompted! #CybercrimeChat #BeCyberSmart https://t.co/7mCizVDyWd
— NICB (@insurancecrime) October 14, 2020
A4: Vulnerabilities and bugs are constantly being found in software that runs these devices, especially as they become more complex. These patches and updates often fix these issues so attackers cannot use them to hack the devices. #CybercrimeChat #BeCyberSmart https://t.co/U0L6zWzRVx
— Madsqu1rrel (@ErichKron) October 14, 2020
Q5 – You’ve probably thought about cybersecurity on your work computer, but it’s just as important to consider cybersecurity on your smartphone! How can we keep our phones secure?
Just like your computer keep apps updated. Delete apps you no longer use. Make sure you understand how the apps you use handle things like location and connect with other data (contacts, etc.) and if there are controls use them to tailor your experience.#CybercrimeChat https://t.co/pY81atsGX1
— Michael Kaiser (@MKaiserDDC) October 14, 2020
Q6 – Speaking of phones, let’s talk about applications. Apps can access a host of information from your smartphone. What types of data are apps taking? Which permission settings are important to adjust?
A6: Does the new game you just downloaded really need access to your location? Probably not! When you download an app, go into settings ➡️permissions and make sure you know what data it’s taking. Turn off anything you’re not comfortable with sharing! #CybercrimeChat #BeCyberSmart https://t.co/v1PX23ZiJi
— Fightcybercrime(@Fightcrime.org) October 14, 2020
A6: Location is a key one, especially if it is embedded in pictures that you share with others. When you install apps, look at the permissions they request. Does a flashlight app really need access to your contacts? Maybe find another instead #CybercrimeChat #BeCyberSmart https://t.co/f2qZMfCyZD
— Madsqu1rrel (@ErichKron) October 14, 2020
Q7 – Do you have any final tips for individuals and businesses looking to secure their devices at work and home?
Try becoming a digital minimalist. Just because you can afford 10 smart devices or can store a million photos on your phone, it doesn’t mean you should.
Know your assets (reduce if possible, devices / software)
Reduce your digital footprint
Turn on 2FA
Update#CybercrimeChat pic.twitter.com/As6cDdZDKf— Javvad Malik v2.0 (@J4vv4D) October 14, 2020
We have a helpful infographic on how you can build your cybersecurity fortress during #CSAM2020 at home and we have a helpful resource center for all tips and tricks! https://t.co/j74krBXOGv #CybercrimeChat #BeCyberSmart https://t.co/OwTBqaDpgR pic.twitter.com/G2JFotRE15
— KnowBe4 (@KnowBe4) October 14, 2020
We had a great time discussing device security with you! Thank you again to Erich Kron from KnowBe4 for co-hosting with us. Thank you to all who participated in last week’s chat, we look forward to chatting with you again soon!