As we ushered in the new year, many of us made resolutions to improve our lives in various ways – be it physical health, career goals, or personal development. However, one area that often gets overlooked is our digital well-being. In an era where we are constantly connected, it’s essential to prioritise cyber hygiene as a resolution for 2025. Let’s explore what cyber hygiene entails and how you can take simple yet effective steps to safeguard your online presence.

Understanding Cyber Hygiene

Cyber hygiene involves the adoption of practices that promote a secure digital environment. This includes protecting personal information, securing devices, and maintaining a proactive stance against cyber threats. Consider it a holistic approach to ensuring the longevity and security of your online presence.

Secure Your Digital Fortress

Strengthening your digital defences begins with robust passwords or passphrases. Ensure your passwords or passphrases are unique for each account, incorporating a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. A password manager can help you generate and store complex passwords securely. Additionally, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of protection, requiring a secondary verification step (email, SMS, hardware token) beyond the password.

Keep Software Up-to-Date

Regularly updating your operating system, antivirus software, and other applications is vital for staying ahead of potential vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals often target outdated software as an entry point into your devices or systems. There are publicly available databases that store common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVE) populated by security researchers. Security practitioners use these CVEs to help protect systems and threat actors use them to attack systems. Turn on automatic updates whenever possible or set reminders to manually check for updates regularly.

Educate Yourself and Others

Stay informed about the latest cybersecurity threats and scams. Follow reputable sources for updates on emerging risks and common attack methods. In the Jamaican context, look to the Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team’s (JaCIRT) website and social media accounts (Instagram, X) for alerts and advisories. Educate your friends and family about phishing techniques, password best practices, and general online safety. Being vigilant collectively strengthens the overall digital resilience of your community. A good resource to self-inoculate is Hacking Humans, a weekly podcast that deep dives into the “social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines and taking a heavy toll on organisations around the world”.

Review Privacy Settings

Take the time to explore and adjust the privacy settings on your social media accounts and other online platforms. Minimise the amount of personal information visible to the public. Review app permissions and consider whether each app truly needs access to the data it requests. Regularly reassess and update these settings as platforms may introduce new features or change their default privacy configurations.

Backup Your Data

Regular data backups are a crucial aspect of cyber hygiene. Consider using cloud services or external hard drives to back up essential files securely. Set up automated backup schedules to ensure that your data is consistently up to date. Having a recent backup ensures a swift recovery in the unfortunate event of data loss due to cyber incidents or hardware failures.

Stay Vigilant Against Phishing

Phishing attacks continue to evolve, making it essential to stay vigilant. Be cautious about unexpected emails, messages, or calls asking for sensitive information. Verify the legitimacy of such requests by contacting the organisation directly through official channels. Be particularly sceptical of urgent or alarming messages, as these are common tactics used in phishing attempts. 

By incorporating these practices into your digital routine, you’re not only safeguarding your personal information but actively contributing to a more secure online environment. Cyber hygiene is an ongoing commitment, so make it a habit to revisit and reinforce these principles regularly throughout the year. Here’s to a digitally resilient and secure 2025 and beyond!