Security Resolutions for 2009

We’re nearly two weeks into the New Year and how many of those resolutions we made during the glow of the holiday season (and maybe some martinis) have gone off with the Grim Reaper? We all make them and break them; it wouldn’t be the New Year without making resolutions, after all. Lose weight, quit smoking (or drinking), start exercising, all are fine resolutions, but how about making a couple security resolutions that will help keep you safe on the Wild, Wild, Web? Here’s a list that you can pick from. Choose one, two, or all of them and pledge to yourself that whichever of them you choose, you won’t break them.

• I will never view, open or click on an email attachment unless I know who sent it, why they sent it and what it is.
• I will never click on a link in an email without knowing exactly where it will take me.
• I will never send sensitive personal or financial information to anyone via email.
• I will download and study Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams provided by US-CERT.
• I will also download and study Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks.
• I will install security software on my computers and keep the software up to date.
• I will set up and begin using a backup plan to protect my data.
• I will use only WPA2 encryption on my wireless access point and a strong password.
• I will review all my passwords, change them regularly, and use strong passwords where sensitive information is at stake.
• I will keep up with security issues by reading Security Corner on a regular basis (shameless plug!)

Any one or more of these security resolutions will get you off to a good start in 2009. I recommend you adopt them all.

Happy New Year!New Year Resolutions Graphic