MADISON, WI (WSAU-WXPR) — October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month in Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Homeland Security Council wants to provide all computer users with a series of tips to lower the risk of cyber crime.
Tod Pritchard from the state Department of Military Affairs says one common way crooks get to your digital info is through an innocent looking link, saying, “They’re trying to get you to click on that link, and unfortunately, sometimes that link is basically an entre to get into your computer to send you malware and start doing nasty things.”
According to the Security Council, after two decades of Internet use, many people still use weak passwords, including 1-2-3-4-5. Pritchard says use a password at least 12 characters long.
“Somebody might use, ‘I like country music 17’, it’s easy to remember, but it’s difficult for a cyber criminal to hack into.”
Pritchard says a common rule used in food safety also works for cybersecurity…”when in doubt, throw it out”.
Interview from Ken Krall, WXPR.
