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Christmas Gift Guide - Security Awareness Style
Hey all, it’s Roby from CYBR again.
It’s that time of the year again. December, where the days are shorter, the weather is getting colder, and seasonal depression begins to creep up on you again. You may have noticed more lights around the city and the decorated trees, which means one thing: the holidays are just around the corner. This time of year often calls for presents to be gifted and received.
It’s time to prepare for the magic of Christmas Eve, where you and your loved ones sit around a tree and give gifts to each other - of course, being 2022 and not 1981, some of us are probably living these magical moments on zoom/teams.
So if you're still looking for that perfect gift for family, friends, or even yourself, then you've come to the right place for your Christmas gift guide -- Security Awareness style. Maybe you’re just not sure what to buy your special someone in your life, I’m also here to give you some ideas.
Your Christmas gifts suck, and here’s why!
While this might sound a bit harsh at first, you can probably admit to yourself that in one way or another, you've probably become comfortable with a certain genre/pattern of gifting. Does Valentine's Day = flowers and chocolates? Perhaps birthdays = a last-minute date night (if you can get a booking) 😫 Christmas after Christmas "silly socks" make their debut, maybe you're the one wrapping them to be gifted or even the one tired of receiving them. Just keep reading a little longer, and you'll be on the right path to more security-conscious gift ideas!
Password managers are the new socks.
“Oh… nice… socks!”.
How many times have you heard the sheer disappointment of that comment coming out of someone’s mouth? Look, nobody is arguing the importance of wearing socks. Here in Norway, having a good pair of socks can make all the difference between life and death. Well, not really, but we’re talking about something else. Socks represent something that most people will always have to wear (no matter who they are or where they are from). Socks are a consumable product with a limited lifespan. They improve your life by bringing comfort and protection to your feet.
It’s almost the same with password managers: they give you comfort (because you won't have to remember every single password you make) and protection (by allowing you to create difficult passwords which are harder to crack). One can argue that password managers are even better than socks: because they won’t get worn out with use or time, and you don’t need more than one /one pair (tell your friends).
VPNs are better than gift baskets - Privacy protection
When it comes to Christmas presents, we need to think of the following:
is the person going to use this?
Is it useful?
Is my money well spent?
The answer to all of these questions is: YES.
What is a VPN?
A VPN is a set-it-and-forget-it type of product. You make an account, set it up and BOOM, you forget that you've even installed it.
VPNs are arguably better than most gift baskets because; there is no expiration date, they don't take up space in your vehicle trunk, and they won’t make you sick if you consume too much. 😉
A VPN helps protect your online privacy by establishing a secure and encrypted connection between you and what you’re doing online. VPNs are awesome, so you should definitely look into it. Depending on the type of VPN that you’re going to buy, you can choose the country that you want your IP address to appear from, and you can watch that Country’s version of Netflix. (Just one of the many things a VPN can assist with)
Great Christmas Stocking Stuffers To Keep Your Privacy Protected
Privacy screen protectors, RFID blocking cards, and MFA Protection! What do they have in common? They're each better "stocking stuffers" than socks, chocolate, and candy canes. These security Christmas gifts will keep you protected all throughout the year:
Privacy screen protectors
This is a Christmas gift idea for someone who values their security while on the go. Privacy screen protectors are a fantastic way to keep your phone, tablet, or laptop screen secure. Privacy screen protectors ensure your privacy is maintained and that your screens are free from the curious eyes of the people around you.
RFID blocking cards
Another gift idea is an RFID-blocking card. This special card is about the same size as an ordinary credit card. Since most credit cards today are “contactless”, money can be stolen far easier than before. If an attacker has the necessary equipment, it only takes a “tap” of the card before money and credentials are stolen. An RFID blocker helps by blocking the signals sent by an attacker (this way, your card does not receive any unauthorized signals indicating the need to pay for something)
MFA protection
Here's one that doesn't cost anything at all: Multi-factor authentification. This one is great for anyone with a mobile device, laptop, pc, or if you have online accounts. Some of us have likely ignored the prompts to set this up in the past (I'm pointing to myself before joining CYBR), but you could not gift yourself a better Christmas gift than MFA protection.
What is MFA?
Multi-Factor Authentification is like an additional forcefield. Enabling MFA protection enhances your security, by requiring you to identify yourself with more than just your username and password (usually through a code sent via SMS, a push notification, email, or another physical device). This means, that even if a threat actor gets ahold of your username and password, they would require extra information in order to gain access to your account.
Our Top Christmas Gift Ideas and Where to Buy Them
1. Password Manager Subscription
Password Manager Subscription - The cost is usually below $5/month (much less than stolen banking credentials, or a stolen identity)
2. Multi-Factor Authentification
Multi-Factor Authentification - This one won't even cost a penny, you'll just need a little time and patience to set up MFA for your devices and accounts.
3. VPN Subscription
VPN Subscription - A good VPN service provides you with a secure, encrypted tunnel for online traffic to flow. You'll be able to keep your online data, your real IP address, and your location private.
4. Privacy Screen Protectors
Privacy Screen Protectors - There are tons of options for privacy screen protectors and they vary in price, depending on what device you'll be securing.
5. RFID Blocker Card
RFID Blocker Card - A travel and everyday essential to protect your credit cards, passport, driving licence, office door passes etc from RFID skimming (electronic pick-pocketing).
6. Security Awareness Training
Security Awareness Training - You might need to have your boss check this one off of your wish list. CYBR's Security Awareness Training empowers you to identify your employees' unique weak spots, and launch personalised, targeted phishing attack simulations.
7. Phishing Simulation Training
Phishing Courses - CYBR's Phishing Simulations condition your employees' resilience against cyber threats such as; phishing emails, smishing and SoMe attacks, in addition to sophisticated deep AI and social engineering threats.
8. CyberSecurity Reading/Books
Ghost in the Wires, by Kevin Mitnick - Kevin Mitnick was the most elusive computer break-in artist in history. "Ghost in the Wires is a thrilling true story of intrigue, suspense, and unbelievable escapes -- and a portrait of a visionary who forced the authorities to rethink the way they pursued him, and forced companies to rethink the way they protect their most sensitive information."
Wrapping up with Secure Christmas Gifts
We’ve all had a rough year. A global pandemic, war, and now inflation to top it all off. The last thing we need right now is useless gifts that would end up being regifted or tossed out with wrapping paper.
Let this holiday season be the time when we begin to look at ourselves from a cyberspace perspective and realize how vulnerable we truly are.
As always,
Stay secure.
For more holiday security awareness tips: you can check out how to keep your home secure while travelling during the holidays, or read up on how to avoid phishing during the holiday season here!