Why You Need to Practice Good 'Cyber Hygiene'

October just isn't all about ghosts and goblins. It's also the month deemed National Cybersecurity Awareness Month by the Department of Homeland Security.

The quest, now in its sixth year, is to improve and boost online security behavior in the workplace and on the homefront, and this year's theme is "Our Shared Responsibility." In simple terms, the government wants everyone to be more aware and more careful when it comes to using the Internet, whether it's to communicate, shop, share data or just gleam useful information.

"All computer users, not just industry and government, have a responsibility to practice good 'cyber hygiene' and to protect themselves and their families at home, at work and at school," according to the department's Web site.

The feds offer up some simple, but important, steps that everyone can follow, from making sure firewalls and virus protection software is updated and working properly to sharing the word about the need for better cyber security. The DHS recommends checking out a great resource site, StaySafeOnline.org, that also offers additional tips, advice and resources for both the educational segment and the small office environment.

That site provides a very handy short tip list that everyone, from seniors to teens, may find handy to post near the PC:

Keep your web browsers and operating system up to date.
Back up important files.
Protect your children online.
Use security software tools as your first line of defense.
Use strong passwords or strong authentication technology to help protect your personal information.
Learn what to do if something goes wrong.

Good hygiene is always a good thing, as we all know. So extending that personal practice into cyberspace, where many of us now find ourselves on a daily basis, just makes good sense.

Photo courtesy of StaySafeOnline.org