Back-to-school season means new schedules, new devices, new online accounts and a lot more digital activity. Students are logging into school portals, parents are managing forms and payments online and businesses are adjusting as employees return from summer vacations and settle into fall routines. Unfortunately, cybercriminals know this too.
The increase in emails, account notifications, online purchases and shared devices creates plenty of opportunities for phishing attacks, stolen passwords, malware and other cybersecurity threats. Whether you are protecting your family at home or your organization at work, a few simple precautions can make a big difference.
Watch for Back-to-School Phishing Scams
During the first few weeks of school, inboxes can quickly fill with messages about everything from schedules and transportation to school supplies and activities. Attackers may create convincing emails or text messages that appear to come from schools, teachers or popular retailers.
Before clicking a link or opening an attachment, take a moment to verify the sender. Be especially cautious of messages requesting passwords, financial information, gift cards or immediate payment.
Businesses should remind employees that the same techniques are frequently used in workplace phishing attacks. A message that appears to come from a manager, vendor, Microsoft 365 or another trusted service should still be reviewed carefully.
Keep Personal and Business Devices Separate
Back-to-school schedules sometimes make device sharing convenient, but allowing children or family members to use a company laptop can introduce unnecessary risk. Downloads, browser extensions, games, and unfamiliar websites could expose business information or introduce malicious software.
Whenever possible, keep work devices strictly for business use and make sure they are protected with current security software, automatic updates and strong authentication.
Strengthen Password Security
New school years often mean new accounts.
Encourage everyone in the household — and workplace — to use unique passwords for every important account. A password manager can help securely create and store strong passwords without requiring users to remember dozens of them.
Multi-factor authentication should also be enabled whenever available, particularly for email, banking, cloud applications and Microsoft 365 accounts.
Update Before You Connect
Laptops, tablets and smartphones that haven't been used regularly during the summer may be missing important security updates. Before returning to school or work, install operating system, application, browser and security updates.
Businesses should also verify that company devices remain properly managed and protected before employees reconnect them to corporate systems.
Make Cybersecurity Part of the Routine
Cybersecurity works best when it becomes an everyday habit rather than something people think about only after an incident occurs.
A trusted Managed Services Provider like Atlantic Technology Services can help businesses manage updates, secure devices, protect Microsoft 365 environments, monitor suspicious activity and educate employees about evolving threats. Click here to schedule a free consultation with us regarding your business technology and getting it ready to go back to school.
As families and businesses head into another busy school year, a little cybersecurity preparation can help everyone stay safer, more productive, and focused on what matters most.
