16790 Centre Ct. Parker, CO 80134     Tel 303-840-8484     Fax 303-840-6150 
Hours of Operation:  Lobby Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm     Drive Through Mon - Fri 8am to 5pm

June 2016 Newsletter

6/1/16 10:00 AM / by Thomas F. Duffy, Chair, MS-ISAC

Thomas F. Duffy, Chair, MS-ISAC

Traveling Securely

From the Desk of Thomas F. Duffy, Chair, MS-ISAC

Summer is finally here and for many of us that means it's time to get away! It's not surprising that many cyber criminals target travelers. Luckily, with a little care it's possible to protect yourself and avoid potential problems.

Sharing isn't always caring

  • Avoid publicly posting details of where and when you'll be traveling. When you reveal these specifics, you are providing information that could be used by criminals to target your home or your family while you're gone.

    Sending private posts and photos during your vacation to family and friends is ok, but if you post them publicly, you increase the risk of someone using that information for malicious activities.

    Just as important as using discretion when posting, is making sure your children and friends understand the risks associated with posting your vacation plans.

  • Do not use public computers and open wireless networks for sensitive online transactions. Wi-Fi spots in airports, hotels, coffee shops, and other public places can be convenient but they're often not secure and can leave you at risk. If you're accessing the Internet through an unsecured network, you should be aware that malicious individuals might be able to eavesdrop on your connection. This could allow them to steal your login credentials, financial information, or other sensitive information. Any public Wi-Fi should be considered "unsecure."

  • Consider turning off features on your computer or mobile devices that allow you to automatically connect to Wi-Fi and other services such as social media websites. Also consider using a cellular 3G/4G connection as a hotspot, which is generally safer than an open Wi-Fi connection. If you do connect through your hotel's Wi-Fi, verify the name of the Wi-Fi hotspot with hotel staff.

Keep in mind that if you are traveling abroad, different countries have different laws, which may allow government employees or law enforcement full access to your device without your knowledge or permission. It’s also important to know the local laws regarding online behavior, as some online behaviors, such as posting disparaging comments or pictures of illegal activity on social media websites, can be illegal

Recommendations

  • Use discretion when posting information online. Consider keeping your social media pages private, so only authorized individuals can visit.
  • Password protect your devices so if they are lost or stolen the information is protected; and enable device tracking.
  • Make sure your laptop and other mobile devices have the latest patches installed. Your software vendor should notify you whenever an update is available. Set your device to auto update.
  • Use of security software is a must. Some programs can also locate a missing or stolen phone, tablet or other similar device, while others will back up your data and can even remotely wipe all data from the phone if it is reported stolen. Definitely make sure you have anti-virus software installed, updated and running.
  • Do not access sensitive accounts (e.g. banks, credit cards, etc.) or conduct sensitive transactions over public networks, including hotel and airport Wi-Fi and business centers, or Internet cafes. Use wired connections instead of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connections, whenever possible.
  • Do not plug USB cables into public charging stations; only connect USB powered devices using the intended AC power adapter as USB cables can be used to

Further Information

More information is available in the User Recommendations section of the CIS Primer on Overseas Travel at: https://msisac.cisecurity.org/whitepaper/documents/CIS%20Primer%20-%20Overseas%20Travel.pdf.

For more information about how to stay safe in cyberspace, visit the Center for Internet Security at www.cisecurity.org

Provided By:

 

logo1.png  logo2.png

 

The information provided in the Monthly Security Tips Newsletter is intended to increase the security awareness of an organization's end users and to help them behave in a more secure manner within their work environment. While some of the tips may relate to maintaining a home computer, the increased awareness is intended to help improve the organization's overall cyber security posture. This is especially critical if employees access their work network from their home computer. Organizations have permission and are encouraged to brand and redistribute this newsletter in whole for educational, non-commercial purposes. Disclaimer: These links are provided because they have information that may be useful. The Center for Internet Security (CIS) does not warrant the accuracy of any information contained in the links and neither endorses nor intends to promote the advertising of the resources listed herein. The opinions and statements contained in such resources are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the opinions of CIS.

Topics: Newsletter

Subscribe to Email Updates

Archives

The Champion Bank


You are now being directed to an external site
Ok