We have all seen headlines such as "Time to Update Your Password: 26 Billion Personal Records Leaked" and "AT&T Breach May Have Leaked 70 Million Social Security Numbers to the Dark Web." As more of our lives are conducted via computer networks, keeping personal information secure is essential. Unsuspecting people who click a link or download a file can expose themselves or their organization to data breaches and information leaks. October is National Cybersecurity Month and it’s also a great time to educate yourself about the threat of phishing, malware, and viruses. The Michigan eLibrary (MeL) includes publications that can help everyone learn more about how to protect themselves from online criminals.
The question is: how can we protect ourselves from becoming a victim of a cybercrime? Both awareness and education are key to avoiding these types of issues. In "Protect and Secure Your Windows Computer: A Practical Guide," PC World staff provide practical tips such as keeping programs up to date and being mindful of admin permissions you give to downloaded files. Another good reminder from this article is to back up your files, with at least three copies in two different places being best practice. For organizations, "Securing Data Privacy and Cybersecurity in Today’s Tech Landscape" in PC Quest focuses on being prepared for data breaches, keeping pace with current threats, and understanding new technologies that may provide additional security.
While we can take the advice of professionals and do the best we can to protect ourselves, it’s also notable that cybersecurity professionals are hard to find and many organizations can’t hire people who are skilled in the field. To encourage young people to learn more about cybersecurity as a career, offer Careers If You Like Problem Solving from the eBook K-8 Collection. For organizations to dive deeper into the topic and create a plan, the eBook Academic Collection includes The Cybersecurity Playbook for Modern Enterprises: An End-to-End Guide to Preventing Data Breaches and Cyber Attacks. In addition to these helpful eBooks, EBSCO LearningExpress includes content to prepare for The Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) Fundamentals of Cybersecurity including practice tests, flashcard sets, a microlesson, a video, an eBook, and an article. To locate these materials, enter “cybersecurity” into the EBSCO LearningExpress search box.
The challenges of keeping our personal data and organizational information secure will continue to evolve. The MeL eResources can help us learn about new threats and how to handle them with regularly updated articles and eBooks.
If you have any MeL eResources questions or issues, contact melerhelp@mcls.org for help.
Brought to you by Laura Warren-Gross from the MeL Team.
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MeL eResources are available to Michigan residents or for Michigan library or school access only.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Library and Museum Servies through the Library of Michigan.
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