Cyber Tips for a Spook-Free Halloween

Cybersecurity Awareness Month ends on Halloween, making it the perfect time to remind internet users of some useful and long-lasting cyber safety tips that will help keep computers, smart devices and online accounts safe from scary malware, internet creeps and wicked fraudsters.

Preventing breaches on All Hollows’ Eve

It doesn’t matter who you are or what data you consider important. Nobody is immune to hacking attempts, data breaches, or leaks that can financially jeopardize you, ruin your reputation or put you in harm’s way.

To prevent security breaches and account takeovers, you must protect your precious ‘candy’ with strong passwords. Just as witches cast magic spells, you too can make some magic on Halloween. Make your accounts impenetrable by adding that extra ingredient to your Halloween cyber-arsenal – two-factor authentication.

You can also get a costume for your sensitive data by using a VPN to encrypt your internet traffic, hide your IP and prevent snoops and online tracking. Don’t forget to limit the amount of info you share on your social media accounts. Your costume photos, decorations and trick or treating schedule don’t need to be shared with the entire world. While you’re away celebrating with friends, some creepy individuals could trespass on your domain.

Don’t give your personal information to greedy ghouls

Every holiday season, cyber ghouls will attempt to trick you into handing out sensitive information. They can mimic officials and organizations to target you with Halloween-themed phishing or scam emails to steal your credentials, money or personal data that can allow them to impersonate you both in the real and supernatural world.

Be extra vigilant against Halloween-themed emails, including juicy discounts or scary messages eluding to unauthorized access, security issues with your financial or social media accounts. Only disclose particular data to legitimate parties and never click on links you receive from strangers.

It’s ok to have trust issues when dealing with strangers. Stop and think for a second before clicking on that special pumpkin spice recipe, flash sale, giveaway or creepy video you randomly receive via instant messages on social media platforms. Don’t click on any attachments either. You never know what creepy crawly you can unleash on your system.

In the spirit of the season, consider a few simple tips to avoid being “spooked” by ghosts and goblins this Halloween.

Keeping a Cyber-trick-free Halloween

The scary side of the internet doesn’t go away after Halloween. Equip yourself with an all-in-one security solution to fend off all the cyber creeps, ghouls and spooky threats coming your way.

Bitdefender security solutions offer best-in-class anti-malware protection for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices alongside privacy and identity theft features to keep you, your data and finances safe, including:

• A fast and dependable premium VPN service to protect your privacy, encrypt your traffic and help you enhance your online shopping experience
• A multi-platform Password Manager that helps you create and organize all of your online passwords, storing them securely so you don’t have to memorize them
• Identity Theft Protection service (for US only) with an exhaustive list of features including 24/7 data breach monitoring and fraud alerts, credit monitoring and lost wallet assistance, alongside hefty insurance of up to $2 million (depending on your chosen plan) to cover legal fees and other costs for fixing your identity

Note: Identity theft Protection is only available for US consumers in a stand-alone version or bundled with Bitdefender Ultimate Security.

Non-US users can opt for Bitdefender Premium Security which includes anti-malware protection, VPN and Password Manager. Digitally-minded consumers can also add a dedicated Digital Identity Protection tool that monitors for data breaches and sniffs out social media impersonators.

Stay Safe!