Editorial: Tend to personal cybersecurity in the new year

By Liz Fraumann

With the new year upon us, not only is it the time to take care of your physical health and well-being, but it is also the time to take care of your cyber health. Protecting your personal information is extremely important, so why not make it a New Year’s resolution to strengthen your identity and personal cyber security in 2015?

Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility by everyone. Neither government authorities nor online businesses are responsible for your personal cybersecurity — in the end, it’s up to you.

• Make a New Year’s resolution to start this 2015 on the right foot. Securing Our eCity Foundation has these useful tips:
• Change passwords. Give your accounts some brand new locks to keep predators outside. If you use an app to keep track of passwords, make sure it is legitimate and that they are signed by reputable retailers.
• Instead of using your SSN for your tax returns, call the IRS and get an ID number to use.
• Get your credit report to ensure that there are no issues when you start the new year.
• Switch over to using a bank issued gift card, as opposed to a credit card, when making purchases in the new year to protect your credit.
• Securing Our eCity Foundation has a “cyber hygiene poster” that is a free resource. To download, visit securingourecity.org

For free tips, programs and other resources to live in a safe cyber environment, go to www.securingourecity.org or call 619-630-2444.

—Liz Fraumann is executive director of the Securing Our eCity Foundation.