Good Security Practices

Have you ever thought of changing your PIN for your debit card? Are you one of those that ignores the alerts that your computer tells you that there is an update? How complex are your passwords online? Do your passwords contain normal dictionary words? Internet and network security is an ongoing and ever so changing practice. Users, consumers and the general public should be aware of and more than likely change their current practices online, out shopping in a retail store, at bank ATMs or even speaking on a telephone in order to safeguard their assets, finances, credit cards, etc. With the recent breach of the retail store Target that affected about 40 million accounts, it is really no surprise that internet and network security should not be taken lightly.


Passwords, PINs, firewalls, anti-virus programs, and encryption are some examples everyone should look into to help secure their valuable information whether they are on their own computer at home, out at the bank ATM, or in a coffee shop accessing the internet from their laptop. This would include changing your passwords to a more stringent and more complex password, changing your bank card or credit card PIN on a normal basis, updating your anti-virus definitions, update your computer regularly, screen protect your computer with a password, encrypt your hard drive in case your computer is ever stolen, etc.


These are some tips you can use to help prevent or mitigate something happening to you. If you have an easy password such as a word or a phrase and have not changed in months or even years, it's time to change it. Make it more stringent with at least 8 characters. Use a combination of upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. Also don't use any dictionary words as they are easily hacked. If you can change your bank debit or credit card PIN if you have used the same one for year. Update your computer on a regular basis. Microsoft finds security holes all the time and issues fixes all the time. If you don't have a firewall or anti-virus program, get one, install it and keep it updated with up-to-date virus definitions. There are plenty of programs out there whether it's freeware, open source or one you have to pay.



With the ever-so increasing cyber threats out there everyone should change their complacent practices and start thinking proactively instead of changing their ways after an event has happened. After working in the IT career field for some years now, I have witnessed the effects of poor security and practices. The worst thing a person can do is to think it can’t happen to you. If you own a computer and haven’t been a victim yet of spam, a computer virus, or someone using your email address to spam others, you are extremely lucky, because chances are if you are a PC owner at some point this has happened to you. How valuable is your information and finances worth to you? The choice is yours.