What is Computer Security day?

Every year, November 30th is Computer Security Day, an unofficial holiday that aims to encourage and educate people about computer security in order to protect their accounts and information online. Computer Security Day was first celebrated in 1988, and is now celebrated internationally by schools, businesses, and many more organizations. Computer Security Day raises awareness for cybersafety, an increasingly more important and relevant topic as our digital world continues to evolve.

How Can You Keep Your Computer (And Other Devices) Secure?

With the rapid development in our technology, there are more ways than ever before to secure your personal devices and  implement multiple layers of protection on your passwords and accounts. However, there are also many new ways for hackers, fraudsters, and scammers to get access to your personal information. It’s important to stay up to date with what you can and should be doing to continue to stay vigilant and protected.

Use Strong Passwords and Password Managers 🔐

I’m sure we’ve all heard that we need to use strong and unique passwords, and oftentimes when you create an account for a new platform your password needs to meet a certain set of requirements or be deemed ‘strong’ enough, but what really makes a strong password? Check out our tip sheet for Password Best Practices to learn more about what things to consider when creating a strong password.

Next, it’s important to always use a password manager to save your passwords. Password managers can also generate random passwords for you. These are often longer passwords and a random mix of letters and special characters  that make it hard for hackers to guess and access your account. For more information on what password managers are and how to use them, check out our resource here.

Back Up Your Files 📁

Another way to protect your personal information is to consistently back up everything on your digital devices. This protects things such as important files, documents, and photos both from hackers and also from regular hardware or software malfunctions. Backing up your files is a great way to ensure you have multiple copies of important information just in case one is lost or compromised.

Read The Fine Print 📖

I’m sure we’ve all been there: you download a new app or sign up for a new account and before you can create your account, the platform presents you with a lengthy Terms and Conditions document that you need to read before proceeding. How many times have you actually taken the time to read through the Terms and Conditions, or do you usually skip through to the end and check off the “I Agree” box to get it over with? Most of us do the latter, but did you know that oftentimes that means agreeing to sharing all of your personal data with the platform, even data that you wouldn’t think is being collected?

Check out our resource on ‘How To Skim A Privacy Policy‘ to see why it’s important to read the fine print and fully understand what you’re agreeing to when you check off the “I Agree” box. It’s important to understand what data the company wants from you and for what purposes, and to understand what you are personally okay or not okay with disclosing.

Computer Security Day at KnowledgeFlow

Our mission is to make all Canadians #UnHackable, and that means providing cybersafety education so everyone is empowered to take charge of their own online safety. We provide countless FREE resources for learners of all ages to start their journey in securing their digital presence, and in honour of Computer Security Day we’ve provided a set of resources to help everyone make sure their personal information is safe and secure.

• Device Security: 6 Essential Steps To Secure Your Devices covers basic tips for beginner learners
• Cybersafety Academy | KnowledgeFlow Cybersafety Foundation the Cybersafety Academy offers countless free courses to develop your understanding of various online threats and how to combat them
• Get Involved | Empower Cybersafety Together for those interested in how they can be part of the mission to improve computer security awareness for all Canadians!

We hope everyone can learn something this Computer Security Day – today, we challenge you to make sure you and your loved ones are staying safe online!