Technology and Security

Out with the old, and in with the new.  2020 has arrived, and this is an ideal time to evaluate your technology security and make necessary changes.

Technology is great.  It keeps us connected, allows us to be more efficient, and increases our productivity.  Although there are many benefits, we also should be aware of the ways ill-intentioned individuals can misuse technology to take advantage of our private data.

Whether it's email, social media, your Portage Learning account, or one of the virtually limitless number of sites on the internet, we all have accounts online.  With so many usernames and passwords to remember, it can be easy to ignore best practices when it comes to password hygiene.  Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Never use a password more than once.  Using the same password for all of your accounts is an easy way to remember them all, but it also makes it much easier for hackers to obtain unauthorized access.  You may think that your online bank account is secure, but if you use the same password for online banking as you do for a site with lesser security, and that site's database is compromised, someone could use that breach to access your bank account without ever needing to break into the bank's database.

Password length is more important than how easy or hard it is to remember.  Nearly all of the most commonly used passwords are short, and changing a letter or two (for example, changing "password" to "p4ssw0rd" doesn't necessarily make it harder for a computer to crack, though it may make it harder to remember.  Choosing long passwords (and staying away from passwords in that list!) is a great way to improve the security of your online accounts.

Use a password manager.  If the first two tips sound like too much work, you're in luck!  A good password manager can generate a unique, strong password for each of your accounts, warn you when an account is compromised, and remember all of your passwords for you.  With a single master password (make sure this password is very long and unique!), you can protect all of your online accounts.  When you visit a site, the password manager will ask for your master password to make sure that it's you and then provide the correct credentials for that site.  There are many options, including LastPass, Dashlane, KeePass, and 1Password.

Be on the lookout for suspicious emails.  If you receive an email from someone you don't know or that contains links, sounds urgent, or looks different in any way, you should mark it as spam and/or delete it without clicking on anything else.  Even email addressed to you may not be legitimate.  If you receive an unexpected email from someone you do know, it may be worthwhile to ask them about it in person or over the phone before opening any links if you are unsure where they may take you.

Computer breaches aren't the only way for your accounts to be compromised.  Physical security of your desktop, laptop, and phone is extremely important.  If you are logged in on a shared computer, always log out of your account when you are finished with your session.  Always require a password when turning on your computer or phone, and never leave your devices unattended in a public place.

With a little bit of practice, we hope these tips become habits, and they'll go a long way to securing your digital accounts!