We are InfoSec: Members of the Information Security Department at KAUST.
Our objective: To be a Human Firewall by shielding yourself, your family, and KAUST from today’s cyber attacks.
Cyber attackers are using sophisticated methods to guess or brute force passwords, and they are constantly getting better at it.
KAUST is a city; we strive to protect networks and system at work and home. Your personal information, personal accounts, personal emails, and even your systems at home are a gold mine for cyber attackers. Below are some simple, effective steps you can take to create a cyber secure home.
Secure Home WiFi : Almost every connected home starts with a wireless network, called a Wi-Fi network. This is what allows you to wirelessly connect your devices to the Internet. Start securing your home by first securing your wireless network. Your Wi-Fi access point is what controls your wireless network. It most likely came with a default administrator username and password. At a minimum, be sure you change the password after the access point is configured and, if possible, change the default username as well.
Next, change the default name of your wireless network, commonly known as the SSID. Choose a name that cannot be tied back to your address or your family name.
Be sure to also configure your wireless network to use the strongest encryption available such as WPA2. Older, weaker forms of encryption, such as WEP, are not secure and should not be used. Finally choose a strong password for people to be able to access your wireless network.
Securing Devices : Once you have secured your wireless network, the next step is to secure the devices connected to it. This begins with knowing what devices you have. Years ago this was easy, as only your computers were likely connected to the Internet. Now, smart TVs, gaming consoles, thermostats, baby monitors, and even lights can connect to your home network. Once you know what is connected, make sure these devices each use a strong, unique password. Far too many devices nowadays ship with default passwords that anyone can learn simply by going to the Internet. In addition, you most likely only have to set the password once, so it is a simple process. Can’t remember all of your passwords? Consider using a password manager to manage all of your personal passwords. In addition, ensure all of your devices’ operating systems, browsers, and apps are kept updated. If a device has an auto-update feature, be sure to enable it. For computers and mobile devices, be sure to enable firewalls and anti-virus whenever possible.
2 Factor Authentication: For your personal online accounts, always enable two-step verification whenever you can, as this is one of the most effective steps you can take to protect them. If you have children, always monitor their activities as children are very curious and are always trying new things online, which could infect your computer. Be sure to check with your Internet service provider, as they may have resources to help protect your home network.
Backups : Be sure you are doing regular backups of your information, such as family pictures and important documents. Whether you use external hard drives or cloud services, choose an automated method that best fits your needs. If one of your computers or devices does get hacked, often the only way you can recover your personal files is from a backup.
Attend Information Security sessions provider by us and we encourage you educate your whole family of latest cyber risks and threats. If you have been a victim of cyber attack please report the incident at information security incident response isirt@KAUST.EDU.SA. We are here to help.
Which anti-virus is best
Two common questions people ask are what anti-virus software is the best and which firewall program they should buy. It really does not matter as long as the solution comes from a well-known, trusted security company. Most home-use security products are very similar to each other in functionality. The one that is best for you is most likely whichever product you find the easiest to use. In addition, most security products now come packaged as a suite. This means all the different security programs, such as firewalls, anti-virus, and web filters, are included as a single solution. For easy access, and if you are living in KAUST, a free anti-virus is provided to you. It can be downloaded from antivirus.kaust.edu.sa.
The advantage of a combined package is that all the different tools you need to secure your computer are integrated into a single program and interface. If you do purchase such a solution, make sure it is enabled and always running the latest version.
Now is the time to be a Human Firewall!
If you haven’t already done so before, you can log in to https://humanfirewall.kaust.edu.sa and learn more by going through our eLearning courses.
Attend our monthly security awareness sessions to learn the latest tricks cyber attackers are using and how you can spot and defend against them.
This article was developed by KAUST’s Information Security Department (ISD)
For more information, please contact us at: askinfosec@kaust.edu.sa.
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