Do you remember passing notes to your friend sitting on the other side of the classroom? Either your classmates were busy or considerate enough not to read the notes. Or you might have written it in code such that only your friend can read it.

Digital communication and online interactions are similar to passing notes in a classroom. Unfortunately, the digital world is not as safe as a classroom. And the data might be visible to some bad actors lurking in cyberspace. They can misuse it, leading to loss of financial assets, unauthorized use of personal information and identity documentation, and theft of personal media. Therefore, cybersecurity, which includes technology and measures to protect data and devices, is important not just for corporate enterprises but also for individuals like you and me.

Communication, data, and devices are the three elements that form the backbone of digital communication. We have to take measures to protect them to preserve our privacy and security. 

Communication includes emails, SMS, messages on social media, e-letters, etc. Data comprises information like usernames, passwords, account numbers, documents, and personal identification details like Aadhaar, PAN, passport details, etc. Devices are those that we store information in. They include mobile phones, USB drives, laptops, digital tokens, etc.

We highlight some measures to protect the availability, confidentiality, and integrity of information and devices:

Stronger passwords

Choose a strong and different password for different accounts. While this may be very obvious, people end up choosing passwords that are easy to remember.  It is easier to have common or easier passwords, especially since we have many accounts and a lot of our personal and professional life is conducted online. 

Increase the security of passwords for phones and laptops by using long phrases and special characters and numbers instead of just alphabets. You can also choose other modes of security like biometric security, face recognition, etc.

Use a password manager. Password managers like LastPass are a great to improve account access and security. You can centrally store account login information and use solid passwords that are computer-generated. 

Enabling of multi-factor authentication (MFA) 

MFA provides an additional layer of protection for sensitive and potentially targeted resources such as banking websites, work portals, etc. When you enable MFA, you typically get a code on another device or application like Microsoft™ Authenticator, which has to be used for access. While MFA might be optional in many cases, we should use it for better data protection.

Up-to-date software

Software applications and operating systems provide updates to fix potential security issues or features to protect from new bugs, viruses, malware, etc. Therefore, we should update them regularly, or our devices can be compromised. We often install games, apps that provide discounts, etc., without thinking twice. We use them briefly, but leave them on our devices. Identifying such apps and software that are no longer used and uninstalling them can reduce exposure to vulnerabilities.

In an increasingly tech-driven world, our use of devices and digital services increases; let us 

• Stay informed
• Take action to protect ourselves from common cyber threats
• Adapt cybersecurity practices to new technology and new threats

And protect our digital communication, data, and devices.