December County Compass Cybersecurity Column: How To Keep Your Home Cybersecure

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Contributed by the South Carolina Department of Administration’s Division of Information Security

Home security is no longer limited to keeping your front door locked and turning on your alarm system. It now extends to protecting yourself from cyberthreats that can intrude upon devices throughout your house and put your personal information at risk. The National Security Agency encourages everyone to protect themselves from cyberthreats at home which can be accomplished through some basic steps.

Cybersecurity Tips at Home 

  • Update operating systems on all your devices.
  • Backup your data on external drives and portable media.
  • Use anti-virus, firewalls and other security software.
  • Only keep digital assistants like web cameras on when in use.
  • Use strong passwords and keep those passwords private.
  • Do not use administrator accounts for regular internet use.
  • Use firewalls on your routers.
  • Turn on Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) on wireless access points.
  • Disable remote administration on routing devices. 

It is not only while you are in your home that you need to be mindful of cybersecurity. If you are using a mobile device, keep these tips in mind.

Cybersecurity Tips for Mobile Devices

  • Do not open attachments or links from unknown email accounts.
  • Use a different password for each account.
  • Use secure email protocols like Secure IMAP or Secure POP3.
  • Do not open emails that seem "too good to be true."
  • Try to avoid using public hotspots.

For more information on how to protect yourself from cyberthreats and keep your home network and devices secure, check out NSA'S Top Ten Cybersecurity Mitigation Strategies.

The South Carolina Department of Administration's Division of Information Security is responsible for a variety of statewide policies, standards, programs and services related to cybersecurity and information systems, including the state’s security information and event management (SIEM) system and the state’s Security Operation Center (SOC).