In recognition of World Environment Day, marked annually on June 5th, KnowBe4, the provider of the world’s largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, has published an expansive guide to offer guidance for people and businesses to better protect their online data.
With World Environment Day putting the spotlight on the damage our planet is under at least while the Facebook likes keep rolling in… cybercriminals are capitalizing on the green agenda with a very modern take on an age-old problem – modern, and much more effective.
Days of peak public interest, such as World Environment Day, are typically accompanied by an increase in cyberattacks, according to KnowBe4.
Bad actors capitalize on the emotional buy-in of sustainability to create credible phishing attacks, phony fund-raising drives and fake sustainability projects. The schemes are designed to hoodwink the eco-aware into sharing sensitive information or giving money illegally.
“On World Environment Day, we see threat actors taking that increase in planetary goodwill by targeting those who truly want to make a difference, and their guards are down because they genuinely do want to help,” said Lael Giebel, KnowBe4’s Director of Global Sustainability. “And that is why human risk management should be at the heart of a security culture of any organisation.
At the crossroads of good intentions and cyber security lies the human element to guarantee that our environmental promises are as effective as they are secure.
Security awareness training specialist KnowBe4 offers a succinct round up of five key steps to staying cyber-safe:
Don’t fall for “Greenwashing”: Always check out an organization before donating to any environmental cause. Fake environmental campaigns are a common way for cybercriminals to seek donations or swipe personal information.
Consider Your Decision: Be extremely skeptical about emails or social media posts that promote environmental activism, in particular those that contain urgent instructions. When can mouse over links to see where they go to before clicking.
Recycle E-Waste: If you recycle old electronics, do not forget to have the data on them thoroughly wiped before: you would not want someone going through your personal information.
Strong Passwords and MFA: We recommend using strong, unique passwords and enabling MFA for all accounts wherever possible.
Implement Sustainable IT Practices: Promote green IT activities, including turning off computers that are not in use, using energy-efficient equipment and minimizing digital storage (which can also mitigate risks to security).
While these are just some practical cybersecurity tips, they can enable people and organizations to participate in global initiatives like 1t.org, confident of robust security as they do so, even if they are outside of traditional office walls.
KnowBe4’s dedication does not stop at advice, but also follows through with its environmental programs aiming to decrease its carbon footprint and promote an environmentally-friendly mindset.
