New Episode Alert EP153

Next year make yourself a resolution to take your digital privacy to the next level by using a Faraday Sleeve for your smartphone, laptop, and key fobs. And if you want the best and highest quality privacy products on the market, you need Silent Pocket. Check out their full product line at

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Can you believe it’s the last week of 2020 already? Finally, right?! It goes without saying that this year has been crazy! As I look back, the first couple months of this year, things were great! I was traveling overseas, going to conferences, and having meetings…actually in person. Then in March, everything came to a halt with the global pandemic and the uncertainty of well, everything and not only our personal lives, but how we all work and communicate with each other. All of a sudden, many of us found ourselves in unfamiliar territory…like working from home, and we've all had to deal with situations we really haven't had to deal with before such as kids and significant others all working from home too. And on top of all that, we've seen an unprecedented number of data breaches, ransomware attacks, privacy concerns, and hacks including the massive SolarWinds debacle which (by the way) seems like the most appropriate way to end the year that was, 2020.

So for my last episode this year I want to get back to the basics and share with you my top three cybersecurity tips. And while we don't know what the future may hold for next year, I will say that following these three tips, you'll be much more secure.

#1 Use a Password Manager and Enable Two-Factor Authentication

So without further ado, let's get to my first tip which is to get rid of those "throw away" weak passwords and always use a password manager to automatically generate a complex and unique password for every site, app, and service that you use. Password managers have really evolved over the years. In fact, Apple and other major tech companies have even built in password managers into their operating systems and even the free versions of popular apps like LastPass are making managing passwords easier than it's ever been. So it doesn't matter what password manager you choose, just use something! As I've talked about on the show with countless examples of data breaches and cyber-attacks week after week, weak and guessable passwords is still the number one way that people and organizations get hacked. Unfortunately, next year will not be the end of the password so remember that good password management starts with you.

And related to passwords, let's make it a habit to always enable two-factor authentication wherever its available. This year in particular, I saw more and more apps and websites putting in two-factor authentication options for their users. But the problem is that many of us don't even know these options are available! So do yourself a favor and look for the option to enable two-factor authentication starting with the sites, services, and apps that you use the most. And if you don't see a two-factor option, it's not a bad idea to contact that company asking when they plan on doing so. Lastly, while I always recommend using app based two-factor authentication like Duo, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator, don't shy away from the older and more traditional text message based two-factor authentication because any two-factor authentication is better than none.

#2 Keep all of your devices patched and updated

My second tip is to keep all of your devices patched and updated. This includes your smartphone, laptop, and all of those Internet of Things devices (if, of course, they have the ability to be updated). As we've seen countless times this year, vulnerabilities are always being exploited by attackers so one of the best defenses you can do is to always keep your devices up to date so that you don't fall victim to an attack. So the next time you see Windows Update or your smart phone prompt you to install that latest update, take the time to do so which will add another layer of defense to your device.

#3 Think before your click!

Now my last tip is, in my opinion, the most important. And that's to "think before you click". This means, don't just blindly click on links in email or text messages. And even if a message is from someone you trust, take a second to think if anything looks odd, out of place, or seems "phishy". Trust your gut, as if something seems off, it probably is. My advice is to always verify strange emails or texts that come from people you trust through another method like calling them on the phone or sending them a message through another app or through email. Here's another tip. Phishing, whether that’s by email, phone, or text message is the most common way that your passwords, and other sensitive data can be compromised. Remember, phishing attacks and scams typically use a sense of urgency and take advantage of the fact that we're human, and well, are emotional creatures and sometimes act on our emotions. That's why we all need to take a few seconds to stop and think before clicking that link.

Now before I go, I want to thank all of you for listening, watching us on YouTube, and supporting our show and sponsors this year. And I also wish you and your family a new year that's safe and secure!

Watch this episode on our YouTube Channel!

DecemberMonthly ShowEpisode 107Our last episode of the year is our always entertaining year in review and 2021 predictions with co-hosts Scott Wright and Kevin Johnson. Thank you for listening and supporting the show in 2020!

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