With all the gift giving going on right now, you might need to take a few steps to make sure your privacy and cyber assets are secure. Make sure that you take a couple of extra minutes while setting up any new smart toys or connected devices to turn on the security features. This will vary depending on the item, but generally, you should set up new devices with passwords (preferably one you don’t use elsewhere); turn on two-factor authentication; and check to make sure you’re okay with the marketing/data collection preference boxes that may be clicked in the settings. It never hurts to look through the settings portion of a new toy to make sure there isn’t something set to a default allow that you would rather not have happen. For a little information about the risks with children’s toys, check out this article from Forbes.
Beware of government phishing scams
Whether you know it or not, you probably don’t go more than a day or two without getting some phishing email. An article by ZDNet describes a new phishing scam going on that is targeting governmental departments and their related business services. While this seems to be specifically targeted at governments around the globe, it is a good reminder to be extra vigilant when clicking on links in emails that purport to deal with a government agency. Because everyone has to deal with the government, this makes people more susceptible to clicking the links. Be wary and be sure to help educate those around you about the importance of being vigilant as part of your own personal cybersecurity.