Rivers and Rivers CPAs

Whether you work in an office or from the comfort of your own home, it’s important that you’re always cyberaware. In the spirit of cybersecurity awareness month, we have a quiz for you. Take our quiz to see how well you’d fare when faced with a hundred-times-a-day occurrence: an innocuous-looking email.

You receive an email with a link. What do you do?

1. Do you verify the sender’s email address before clicking?

✅ Always verify the sender’s email address to avoid phishing scams.

2. Is the email from a trusted and verified source?

✅ Only click on links from trusted sources.

3. Do you hover over the link to check the URL before you click?

✅ Hovering over the link can reveal suspicious-looking URLs.

4. Does the URL look legitimate and match the sender’s domain?

✅ Be cautious of mismatched URLs. When in doubt, ask the sender to verify.

5. Do you use antivirus software that scans emails and links?

✅ Using antivirus software can help detect malicious links.

6. Is your antivirus software up to date?

✅ Always keep antivirus updated for the best protection.

7. Do you have a firewall enabled on your home and/or business network?

✅ A firewall is essential for network security.

8. Do you regularly back up your data?

✅ Regular backups are critical in case of a cyberattack. Backing your data up to the cloud is the safest and most reliable option.

9. Do you use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication (MFA) on your accounts?

✅ Strong, unique passwords are a key defense against cyberthreats. And MFA adds an extra layer of security.

10. Are your software and systems regularly updated with security patches?

✅ Regular updates are crucial for maintaining security.

11. Do you educate yourself, your family and your employees about cybersecurity best practices?

✅ Continuous education is vital for being cyberaware.

12. Do you only use secure Wi-Fi networks and/or VPNs?

✅ Using unsecured Wi-Fi networks can lead to cyberattacks.

13. Do you have a response plan in place for cyber incidents, and do you regularly test your cybersecurity measures and response plans?

✅ Having a response plan ensures quick and effective action, and regular testing helps identify and fix vulnerabilities.

Cybersecurity is an ongoing process. If you checked all these boxes, don’t rest on your laurels. Always stay vigilant and proactive to keep your home or business safe from cyberthreats.