DIY Security Awareness Training
As you might imagine, RealTime fields a fair number of questions regarding cybersecurity that range from “How can we be better protected” to “I’m scared that we might be hit like that <insert business name here> was.” As part of answering this real need for our clients, RealTime is now offering an end user training program as part of our Advanced Cybersecurity Services.
By Todd Swartzman
Chief Information Security Officer
As you might imagine, RealTime fields a fair number of questions regarding cybersecurity that range from “How can we be better protected” to “I’m scared that we might be hit like that <insert business name here> was.” As part of answering this real need for our clients, RealTime is now offering an end user training program as part of our Advanced Cybersecurity Services.
But, if you aren’t a client (yet) or you’d just like to try this on your own, you can train some of the basics of cybersecurity awareness just by spending a little time online, especially Youtube. This is not intended to replace formalized training, or make you an expert. What these videos can do is help you address some of the most likely threats that the average person encounters just because they use the internet and email in the course of doing their job. These tips are excellent for anyone who just wants to reduce their risks online.
TOOLKIT FOR SMALL BUSINESS
The Global Cyber Alliance is soon releasing a toolkit for small business to better educate and protect themselves from the most common threats in an easy to understand format. RealTime has access to this content early (it will be available to the public soon) and will post about that once it becomes publicly available. For now, here is a compilation we have put together that anyone can use to be better informed and help protect from common cyber threats we all get exposed to on a daily basis at work and at home.
SECURITY AWARENESS VIDEOS
Our Chief Information Security Officer, Todd Swartzman, has watched all of the videos below and recommends taking the the four minutes or less each needed to watch the them for your DIY education.
The links are current as of August 24th, 2020.
Phishing explained with some education, by SANS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEMrBKmUTPE
How to spot a phishing email, report by Fortune Magazine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfnA7UmlZkE – best tip in this video: If the email looks suspicious, it probably is.
If you only watch one video, make it this one – An excellent video spotting phishing scams that is well worth the almost 4 minutes of your time. Loaded with realistic examples and tips - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GwWTjz6txU – best tip: Think before you click.
Office 365 phishing attack types with some examples, this is not a video - https://betanews.com/2019/04/03/office-365-phishing-attacks/ Note that these threats are not unique to Office 365 email – we’ve seen attempts against all web based email systems. Just more confirmation that if something asks you to confirm credentials or enter your logon info to access an attachment – be wary! It’s better to ask questions before you click than after.
TODD’S TIP
“The best single tip that I can provide to help you avoid being hooked by phishing: Microsoft, Google, Apple, Verizon, Bank of America, SSA, IRS, and thousands of legitimate, big, public businesses just like them will NEVER, ever, send an email to you asking you to confirm your password.”
HERE ARE SOME OTHER THREATS WE FEEL EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE:
Tech support scam, by USAGov - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGBLjPKSUeU – If you have older parents who use email and the internet, please ask them to watch this video! I have helped too many older, and not so older people, who have been scammed in this way, including my own parents more than once.
Tech support scams can start just as easily with a pop up on the computer telling you something bad happenned that you need to call a number… or else something bad will happen.
Spot a bad URL or Link, by Symantec - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIeS7sJ_Llw
Better passwords, Local CBS news report - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oakITDBYElw
Better password management using a password manager. This post explains LastPass, but all the password manager applications work pretty much the same - https://lifehacker.com/the-beginners-guide-to-setting-up-lastpass-1785424440 One important detail – you want to be sure that whatever application you use has their security act together and stores the passwords properly. 1 Password,
Mobile device security from SANS Security Awareness - https://youtu.be/WEfWFA4xdd4