4 Ways to BOOST Your Digital Defenses
As cyber threats continue to evolve, so must our defenses. This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the team at BOOST is encouraging preschool teachers to reflect on how to better protect themselves in an increasingly digital world. From personal finances to classroom communication tools, your digital footprint holds valuable information worth safeguarding.
Here are four practical ways to BOOST your digital defenses and keep your personal and financial data:
1. Create Unique Usernames and Passwords
Strong, unique passwords are your first line of defense against cyber threats. Reusing the same password across multiple accounts greatly increases your risk. And if one account is compromised, others could be too.
Using a password manager (such as 1Password, Bitwarden or LastPass) to generate and securely store complex passwords can help you avoid using easily guessed details like birthdays or pet names. Just a few minutes spent setting this up can save you from a major headache later on.
2. Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Unfortunately, passwords alone are no longer enough to protect your accounts. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second step — like a code sent to your phone or generated by an app — before granting access.
Enabling 2FA on your email, banking and work-related accounts can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access. Using an authenticator app (like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator) instead of SMS provides much stronger protection.
3. Avoid Phishing Emails and Texts
Cybercriminals often use phishing to trick people into revealing sensitive information, like passwords, banking details or other personal data. These messages may look like they’re from trusted sources, but they often contain malicious links or attachments.
Always verify a sender’s email address, hover over links before clicking, and report phishing attempts to your email provider or IT department. When in doubt, don’t click!
4. Keep Your Personal Devices Up to Date
Outdated software is one of the easiest ways hackers gain access to your data. Regular updates often include critical security patches that fix known vulnerabilities.
Enable automatic updates on your devices and apps whenever possible, and restart your devices when prompted. Those update notifications are there for a reason — don’t ignore them!
Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. By taking simple, proactive steps, you can significantly reduce your risk and help protect your personal data. This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, let’s all commit to BOOSTing our digital defenses and creating a safer digital world for ourselves, our students and our communities.
Want more tips like these? Stay connected with us for practical ideas and real-life resources by following us on Facebook and Instagram. You can also reach out to our Director of Teacher Success Whitney Carper at wcarper@boostbyhinge.org for more help navigating personal financial challenges.