What is Cyber Hygiene and How to Maintain It

In 2024, where we're all connected online, keeping our digital lives clean and secure is as important as personal cleanliness. This practice is what we call "cyber hygiene." Like washing your hands keeps you healthy, good cyber hygiene keeps your digital presence secure.

What is Cyber Hygiene

Cyber hygiene involves regular routines and practices that help maintain the health and security of users' data and their devices. This means doing everything necessary to keep personal information safe and protected from thieves and hackers.

Imagine your computer and online accounts as a house. Just as you regularly clean your house, lock the doors, and close the windows to keep it safe, cyber hygiene involves taking similar steps online. This includes setting strong passwords, updating software, backing up data, and being aware of how to spot and avoid scams.

Maintaining good security hygiene is a bit like keeping a tidy room; it might require some effort and regular upkeep, but it makes your digital life much more pleasant and safe.

Benefits of Providing Cyber Hygiene

Keeping up with good cyber hygiene comes with a lot of plus points. It's like having a strong, healthy immune system for your digital life. Here are some of the key benefits:

Less Risk of Data Breaches: Just like locking your doors can keep thieves out, good cyber hygiene can help keep hackers away from your personal info.

Smoother Performance: Computers, like cars, run better with regular maintenance. Keeping your systems updated helps them work smoothly and quickly.

Peace of Mind: Knowing you're taking steps to protect your digital life can make you worry less about falling victim to online threats.

Saves Money: Preventing problems before they happen can save you from spending on fixing issues like malware infections or data loss.

Trust: If you're a business, showing that you practice security hygiene can make your customers and partners trust you more.

What Are The Common Cyber Hygiene Problems

Even though cyber hygiene is important, there are common slip-ups many of us make without realizing it. Some of these include:

• Weak Passwords: Using easy-to-guess passwords like "123456" or "password" makes it easy for hackers to access your accounts.
• Ignoring Updates: Putting off software updates means you're missing out on important security fixes.
• Clicking on Suspicious Links: Without thinking, clicking on links in sketchy emails or websites can lead to trouble.
• Not Backing Up Data: If you don't have copies of your important files, a single ransomware attack could wipe out everything.
• Sharing Too Much Online: Posting too much personal info on social media can give hackers the clues they need to steal your identity or break into your accounts.

What is a Cyber Hygiene Checklist

A cyber hygiene checklist is a set of guidelines that help you maintain the security and health of your digital devices and personal information. It includes practical steps to significantly reduce the risk of cyber attacks and data breaches.

Here's a simple cyber you can follow:

Table 1: Cyber Hygiene Checklist

Keeping your digital life clean isn't just a one-time clean-up; it's about making sure you keep things tidy every day.

Here are some best practices:

• Regular Check-ups: Just like you go to the doctor for a check-up, make sure your devices and software are always up-to-date. This helps protect against new viruses and hackers. Back up is also significant for computer hygiene.
• Keep Information Safe: Use strong, unique passwords for different accounts. Think of passwords like toothbrushes: don’t share them and change them regularly.
• Double-Check Doors: Two-factor authentication (2FA) is like having a lock on your door. It adds an extra layer of security, so even if someone knows your password, they can't easily get in.
• Clean Up Regularly: Delete old emails and files you don’t need. This is like decluttering your house, so there's less for thieves to snoop through.
• Know Your Neighbors: Be aware of the common scams and threats. Just like knowing about a rash of break-ins in your area, this can help you stay vigilant.

What are examples of good cyber hygiene?

Good cybersecurity hygiene can be as simple as adopting a few daily habits:

• Locking Your Digital Doors: Always logging out of accounts when you're done.
• Not Leaving Keys Under the Mat: Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
• Deleting Old Mail: Regularly deleting unnecessary files and emails.
• Looking at Details on Website: Checking a website’s security (look for HTTPS in the URL) before entering any personal information.
• Keeping Your House in Order: Organizing your files and knowing where your important information is stored.

How Businesses Can Provide Cyber Hygiene

Businesses have a big role in keeping their digital environment safe for everyone. Here's how they can help:

• Security Training and Awareness: Teach employees about the importance of cyber hygiene. It's like teaching your family to lock doors and windows.
• Provide the Right Tools: Give employees access to security software, password managers, and encrypted networks. Think of this as providing strong locks and alarm systems.
• Regular Check-ins: Conduct security audits and updates regularly. This is like a regular home inspection to ensure everything is in order.
• Have a Plan: Make sure there's a clear action plan for when something goes wrong, similar to having a fire escape plan in your house.
• Encourage Clean Desks: Encourage employees not to leave sensitive information on their desks and lock their computers when they're away. It's like reminding them not to leave the front door open.

By adopting these practices, you’re not just keeping your digital space organized; you’re also building a safer environment for everyone involved.Watch this video on YouTube to learn more about cyber hygiene.

Also, use Keepnet’s Human Risk Management platform to create a security culture within your organisation.