Cybersecurity Best Practices

Protect yourself at home

Home networks have become increasingly easy to set up, but that can make people overconfident in their network security.

Even if you have a professional put your home network in place, you should still verify that router, encryption, and other settings are appropriate for your household situation.

• It all starts with your wireless router
• Don't forget about your devices
• Regularly back up your files
• Other considerations
• Reach out to your internet service provider (ISP) with questions

Personal security

Managing your online privacy begins with the basics of regularly reviewing your privacy settings on phones, computers, and other networked devices.

This includes creating — and updating — strong passwords on your devices and using two-factor authentication (also known as multi-factor authentication) based on something you have (like a cellphone) and something you know (like a password) to ensure your online security.

Keeping educated on the latest online scams can help you avoid having your private information — or that of your family or employer — fall into the wrong hands. Hackers are always on the lookout for the next opportunity to exploit online mistakes.

Identity theft

Regardless of how careful you are online, it's possible for anyone to fall victim to an online attack.

If you know or fear your identity has been compromised or stolen online, there are steps you can take to minimize damage, especially if you act sooner than later.

Commonwealth employees are required to take annual cybersecurity training courses, and are encouraged to seek out additional training.

With the shift by many agencies to remote or hybrid work environments, employees must take additional precautions online with their work devices and home networks. Learn about the steps you can take to protect yourself on Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other common collaboration tools.

Stay informed about time-sensitive industry and government cybersecurity alerts affecting the networks, software, hardware, and services you use. Learn about the latest cybersecurity news and events from trusted sources.