Talking to loved ones about cyber security can be tricky, but it's more important than ever in today's digital world. Whether you're talking with your great uncle, parents, siblings or close friends, helping them understand how to stay safe online can help protect their personal and sensitive information and prevent them from falling victim to cyber threats. Here are some ways you can navigate conversations about cyber security (with even your most reluctant family member).
If your loved one says, "I'm not likely to be a victim of cyber security!"
Start with a gentle conversation by letting them know they're more likely to be a victim of a cyber attack than they might think. Statistically, 70% of CanadiansFootnote 1 have experienced a cyber security incident within the past year. Be non-confrontational and start small. Teach them how to secure their accounts with a strong password or passphrase.
If your loved one says, "but I don't do anything risky online!"
Make it clear that even people who only use the internet for routine things, like scrolling social media or checking email, can be victims. Cyber criminals are always looking for opportunities to stealfrom people, especially through phishing attempts and malware. Talk to them about whether they've ever received a suspicious email or direct message on social media. Offer advice on how to spot a cyber threat on social media and help explain how certain social media habits can compromise their cyber security.
If your loved one says, "I'm a law-abiding citizen – if the government texts me for personal information, I'm going to give it to them!"
Explain phishing attempts to your loved one. Phishing occurs when cyber criminals pretend to be someone or an organization, to steal money and information from victims. It's important that they know the signs of a phishing message to help avoid falling victim to online scams or clicking malicious links or downloads. Let them know that multi-factor authentication (MFA), which adds an extra layer of security to your accounts, can be 99% effectiveFootnote 2 at protecting them if a cyber criminal gets their password.
If your loved one says, "I use the same password for all of my accounts because remembering different ones is too hard!"
Passwords are the first line of defence when it comes to account security. That's why it's so important for your loved ones to use a different password for every account they have. Otherwise, if a cyber criminal gains access to their password for one account, they can use it to access all their accounts, like in a credential stuffing attack,. Suggest the use of password manager to your loved ones so they don't need to memorize all their passwords. You should also make sure they never use personal information – like a pet's name, a birthday or a favourite sports team as their password. Better yet, encourage your loved ones to use passphrases for passwords – they can use the Get Cyber Safe passphrase generator to get started.
Conclusion
Cyber security doesn't have to be intimidating. Make sure to keep the conversation positive and reassure them that cyber attacks can happen to anyone. But they should still take simple measures to help protect themselves. Help them focus on simple steps that can make a big difference when it comes to minimizing risks. As a starting point, tell them to kick off their cyber security journey by:
- using unique and complex passwords or passphrases for each of their accounts (bonus points for using a password manager to remember them)
- enabling MFA whenever possible
- avoiding suspicious emails or text messages
- visiting GetCyberSafe.ca for more tips on staying cyber secure!