KnowBe4 Shares Five Cyber Tips for National Internet Safety Month

KnowBe4 has released a set of cybersecurity tips aimed at helping organisations and individuals enhance their online protection during National Internet Safety Month this June.

National Internet Safety Month was established by the US Senate in 2005 to promote awareness about internet safety, a topic that has grown in importance as digital threats have become both more frequent and complex since then.

Phishing attacks and data breaches have become common occurrences, with many making headlines regularly, contributing to increasing concern about cyber risks in both personal and workplace environments.

Research on the efficacy of security awareness training indicates that such education can decrease susceptibility to phishing attacks by as much as 86% worldwide.

KnowBe4 has highlighted five essential cybersecurity practices for individuals and organisations to implement. The guidance is designed to reduce the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks and to foster a culture of security awareness.

The first recommendation is to adopt non-phishable multifactor authentication (MFA). Enabling phishing-resistant MFA wherever possible provides an additional layer of security that supports the use of strong passwords.

The second practice advises users to be sceptical of urgency. If an email or message pressures a recipient to act immediately, it is important to pause and verify the authenticity of the communication before responding.

The third tip is to verify before trusting online communications. This involves double-checking the sender's email address or the website URL to confirm that it is legitimate before engaging further.

The fourth recommendation focuses on home network security. KnowBe4 urges users to change default router passwords and use robust encryption in order to protect Wi-Fi networks from unauthorised access.

The final recommendation is to back up data regularly. Utilising cloud services or external drives to safeguard important files ensures readiness in the event of a ransomware attack or data loss incident.

Erich Kron, Security Awareness Advocate at KnowBe4, commented on the ongoing need for strong security practices, stating, "The security landscape changes rapidly, but the fundamentals of good cybersecurity practices remain constant. This National Internet Safety Month, we are reminding organisations that building a security-conscious culture is just as important as implementing technical safeguards. When employees understand how to identify and respond to potential threats, they become your strongest security asset."

KnowBe4's recommendations arrive as the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, challenging organisations and individuals to reassess their digital behaviours and strengthen their overall online safety posture.