‘How TOTAL is Your Cyber Security?’

It’s October so it’s Cyber Security Awareness Month again.

We’re about to begin biggest online shopping season of the year, so this campaign is well-timed to highlight “the simple steps that can be taken to protect data, whether personal, financial and/or professional.”

(THIS SWEEPSTAKES IS NOW CLOSED.)

To celebrate this annual effort, we’re giving away 5 F-Secure TOTAL one-year licenses — which combines the award-winning best protection of F-Secure SAFE with the world-renowned FREEDOME VPN. Find out more about TOTAL here.

All you have to do to enter is take this quiz and post your score or the word “Complete” in the comments of this post. You’ll find out how TOTAL your cyber security awareness is and get a chance to make your cyber security even better. Read the rules and enter once now. (Please be aware that if this is your first time posting on our blog, your comment will not appear immediately .)

We’ll pick 5 winners when the month is over. Good luck!

How Total is Your Cyber Security?
Give yourself 1 point for every statement below that describes you.

___ 1. I use strong, unique passphrases (or random-generated passwords) for all my most important online accounts.

___ 2. I use two-factor authentication or multi-factor whenever possible on my key accounts. (That’s a password + SMS text or Authenticator code).

___ 3. I keep my software updated.

___ 4. I run updated security software with browsing protection on all every device or PC I can.

___ 5. I know how to vet links in emails before clicking on them (whether for security or tracking purposes).

___ 6. I use a password manager.

___ 7. I have passcodes on my devices.

___ 8. I use a VPN when I connect to public Wi-Fi.

___ 9. I lock my PC when I walk away.

___ 10. I know the vast majority of ransomware threats arrive through email attachments.

Score
10- TOTAL Security
9- Virtually TOTAL Security
8- Pretty Good Security
7- Patchy Security
6 or Below- Time to step up your security

FIND OUT MORE

1. I use strong, unique passphrases (or random-generated passwords) for all my most important online accounts. When it comes to passwords, the longer the better. But using unique passwords for each account is the best way to limit your damage if your services are breached.
2. I use two-factor authentication or multi-factor whenever possible on my key accounts. (That’s a password + SMS text or Authenticator code). If you don’t have two-factor authentication, you will be hacked. Your password will be guessed eventually. And you won’t be able to kick the hacker out of the account before major damage can be done.
3. I keep my software updated. Unpatched software is like leaving a broken window on your house. It’s inviting crooks in. When updates for your OS and software, including browsing add-ons, are available update as soon as possible.
4. I run updated security software with browsing protection on all every device or PC I can. Protect yourself from all known threats and scam sites with updated security software that blocks bad urls with Browsing Protection. With security that uses behavioral-based blocking like F-Secure TOTAL to avoid advanced threats.
5. I know how to vet links in emails before clicking on them (whether for security or tracking purposes). Links in emails may send you to a phishing scam or just may be tracking you in a way you don’t want to be track. Check links by hovering over them with your mouse to make sure it’s a legitimate URL that isn’t tricking you with a misspelled domain name or extra domains like Google.Googgly.com . If you want to go to the site without the tracking codes, copy and past the url and delete the extra coding.
6. I use a password manager. Many security experts recognize that remembering dozens of passwords is impossible. A password manager limits that burden to one password that secures them all. You can use F-Secure KEY on one device for free.
7. I have passcodes on my devices. Without a passcode anyone — including a criminal, your ex or law enforcement — can access your entire online life. Locking with a secure code the most basic security step you should take.
8. I use a VPN when I connect to public Wi-Fi. Without a VPN, it’s trivial for anyone else using the same Wi-Fi to see big parts of your traffic. Use a VPN on your laptop, on your phone and your tablet. F-Secure TOTAL includes F-Secure FREEDOME VPN, which you can try for free.
9. I lock my PC when I walk away. Don’t make it easy for intruders. Hit “Windows key + L to lock” on Windows. Enable the lock screen in Mac and hit “Control + Shift + Eject”.
10. I know the vast majority of ransomware threats arrive through email attachments. F-Secure Labs found that 80% of attachments in spam emails sent in 2016 were ransomware. The trend is continuing in 2017. So avoid clicking attachments at all cost.