Cyber hygiene definition
Cyber hygiene refers to practices users should take to maintain system health and safeguard against cyberattacks, data breaches, identity theft, and other security risks.
See also: patch, antivirus, password protection, password vault
Examples of cyber hygiene
- Regular software updates. Keep all software, operating systems, and applications updated — as these updates often patch newly found vulnerabilities.
- Antivirus. Install and keep your antivirus software updated.
- Secure passwords. Use strong and unique passwords for all your accounts. When you use the same passwords across multiple websites or apps, you risk losing them all due to a single incident.
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA). Enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible to add a layer of security to your accounts.
- Backups. Regularly backup important data, preferably in a secure cloud or an external storage device.
- Secure Wi-Fi. When using a public Wi-Fi network, connect to a VPN to encrypt your connection and protect your traffic from possible snoopers.
- Limited privileges. Limit user privileges to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
- Email security. Be cautious with email attachments and links, especially from unknown senders — these are often signs of a phishing scam.
- Physical access. Secure physical access to devices to prevent unauthorized access.
