November 30 – Computer Security Day & An easy to follow checklist for basic computer safety

Every year, November 30th is observed as the Computer Security Day. Our daily life today is intrinsically connected to the world of computers and Internet. Almost everything that we do on a daily basis, like tasks and communications related to our job, entertainment, travel, banking and even socializing, have all gone digital in one way or other. This brings us face-to-face with the reality of security concerns associated with the digital life.

The Computer Security Day is an occasion to make sure that we are prudent while being online and while using digital assets and we are aware of the risks and have taken evasive actions against the most common dangers of the cyber world. It is an occasion to spread awareness about the various dangers that can happen to our digital life and digital data and to promote best practices in Information Security to prevent things from going bad. This special day reminds us that implementing computer security and safety policies is an essential personal responsibility, both in our private and professional life.

Computer Security Day is a perfect occasion to get you acquainted with a basic computer security checklist that we have compiled for you, which can help you in staying smart, safe and secure while using digital assets. Follow these basic steps and share them with your friends and family.

1. Always keep your digital device protected and up-to-date. Ensure that all the software updates and software patches for the operating system, browser software and security software are regularly applied.

2. Never use a digital device without installing defensive mechanisms like anti-virus software, anti-malware packages and firewall software, as they are absolute requirements against security threats. And always remember to keep them updated.

3. Make sure that regular anti-virus, anti-malware and other threat analysis is done on your digital devices.

4. Always use strong, non-guessable passwords and always keep them safe and personal by never revealing them to anyone. Make sure that your password is not related to your identity, unique for each of your different accounts and is made of a combination of alphabets, numbers and special characters in random order with a minimum length of eight to ten characters.

5. Make all your critical data safe by taking regular backups.

6. Always give utmost importance to security policies that are implemented in your workplace.

7. Always be careful while handling your digital devices and backup devices like USB drives and memory cards and never leave them unattended as it can lead to unauthorized access and data theft.

8. Beware of online fraudsters and scammers as they are out there to steal your identity for the purpose of conducting financial thefts and illegal activities. They can dupe you into revealing your personal information and make you visit malicious websites for the purpose of keeping track of your digital life, so it will be prudent to be always aware of what you do while online.

Avoid emails and online advertisements offering freebies, gifts and unbelievable schemes. Be careful about links in email messages and never install unknown software program on your device.