Happy ‘National Computer Security Day’!
There’s a day to celebrate everything now. For most, today will be known and celebrated as St. Andrew's Day but others will know that National Computer Security Day was first marked on this date in 1988.
November 30th was the anniversary of the Morris Worm incident. This was one of the first major computer worms to spread across the internet, causing significant disruption. The widespread impact of the Morris Worm highlighted the urgency of addressing computer security issues and inspired the creation of this dedicated day.
Since then, National Computer Security Day has evolved, with organisations worldwide taking part in activities aimed at promoting cybersecurity awareness. It serves as an annual reminder to stay vigilant, update security measures, and educate oneself about the latest threats in the ever-evolving digital landscape. As our dependence on technology continues to grow, National Computer Security Day remains a crucial occasion to prioritise the protection of our digital assets and foster a culture of cybersecurity.
Why not try at least one of these things today?
Strengthen your passwords
It’s a fact that ‘Password’ is still one of the most used passwords. Improve yours by selecting three random words, try swapping characters for numbers, uppercase letters and special characters. The longer each random word you choose the more secure the password.
e.g. wife, menu, lake could become wiFem3nul@ke
Start using a password manager
Creating and remembering a unique password for every account you have takes a lot of effort but relying on one password for everything is risky. Using a password manager could be your solution and there are dozens available. The best one for you will depend on which device and browser you use most often. Check your email account to see if there is one built in to help you prevent losing your personal data.
Ensure your devices are up to date
Check your device, browsers and the software you have installed for any required updates. Updates don’t just give you potentially new fun features to explore they also fix vulnerabilities that could lead to potential risks. Get into the habit of routinely checking for updates; they are developed for a reason!
Look at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) materials
Keeping Children Safe in Education ‘23 highlighted again the need for all school staff to be aware of and protect themselves against cyber security attacks. Materials are made freely available for self-study and can be accessed through this link. ncsc.gov.uk/information/cyber-security-training-schools. Alternatively, contact us to arrange training for your whole staff team to help build resilience and develop a culture of best practice. Find us here at Computing - Education North Tyneside.
Maybe this is the first time you’ve heard of National Computer Security Day, but if you’ve accessed this article via our website then it’s message is for you. What are you waiting for? Everyday should be National Computer Security Day!
