{"id":91177,"date":"2020-06-09T12:00:34","date_gmt":"2020-06-09T19:00:34","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-06-26T02:26:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T09:26:10","slug":"11-security-tips-stay-safe-covid-19-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/security\/blog\/2020\/06\/09\/11-security-tips-stay-safe-covid-19-era\/","title":{"rendered":"11 security tips to help stay safe in the COVID-19 era"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our daily routines, the ways we work, and our reliance on technology. Many of us are now working remotely, students are attending classes virtually, and we\u2019re relying more on social media and social networks to stay connected as we define what our new normal looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we spend more time online, it\u2019s important to remember that the basics of online safety<\/a> have not changed. These guidelines provide a strong foundation for digital security, but as we think about the \u201cnew normal\u201d and how the internet is woven into the fabric of our lives, extra steps may be necessary to further reduce risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, in addition to the security policies implemented by your work or school, here are a few more practices we recommend you\u2014and your family and friends\u2014adopt to further increase personal cybersecurity resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep devices secure and up to date<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Turn on automatic security updates, antivirus, and firewall<\/strong>. The reality of cyberthreats is that they often prey upon the devices that are the easiest to compromise: those without a firewall, without an antivirus service, or without the latest security updates. To reduce this risk, turn on automatic updates<\/a> to ensure your devices have the latest security fixes, enable or install an antivirus solution<\/a> that runs continuously, and configure a firewall<\/a>. Modern computers have many of these features available and enabled by default, but it is a good idea to check all three are correctly set up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Don\u2019t forget networking devices<\/strong>. Device safety includes your networking devices, too. As with computing devices, make sure that you check for and apply all updates for your networking devices. Many devices use default passwords, which means attackers have an easy list to try. Make sure to check your networking devices are not using default admin passwords or ones that are easily guessable (like your birthday). It\u2019s also good hygiene to update your Wi-Fi credentials to strong passwords with a mix of upper- and lowercase letters as well as symbols and numbers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Use Wi-Fi encryption options for access<\/strong>. Wireless access points offer the ability to require passwords to gain access to the network. You should take advantage of this feature to ensure only authorized users are on your home network.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Secure your identity, guard your privacy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Protect your digital identity<\/strong>. With more of our lives connected in the virtual realm, your digital identity<\/a> becomes even more important to protect. Use strong passwords<\/a> or, if possible, biometric authentication like your face or fingerprint, and wherever possible enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). Among others, Google and Microsoft<\/a> both offer free MFA applications that are easy to set up and use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Keep your guard up in online chats and conferencing services<\/strong>. As we spend more time on virtual conferences and video calls, it is important to think about privacy. Consider these questions when trying new services:\n