Chris Smith

Author of Privacy Pandemic | Sharing lessons from my battle with cybercrime and strategies to help others protect their digital identity and privacy

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Don’t let your vacation become a hacker’s opportunity.

DYK? Travelers are targeted 3x more often by phishing scams (Source: Proofpoint).

Use a VPN and avoid public Wi-Fi networks.

Pro Tip: Post your holiday pics WHEN YOU RETURN.

What’s your tip for digital security?

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Don’t wait for data loss to think about backups.

DYK? 30% of people still don’t back up important files regularly (Source: Backblaze).

Use cloud services and external drives to safeguard critical data.

How often do you back up your important files?

#DataBackup

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Deals too good to be true often are.

DYK? 1 in 4 online shoppers fall victim to fake websites during sales seasons (Source: ACI Worldwide).

Verify the legitimacy of e-commerce sites before making purchases.

What’s your go-to tip for avoiding online shopping scams?

#scams

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

The worst time to plan is after the attack happens.

Plan now.

DYK? Only 40% of people know how to recover hacked accounts (Source: Google).

Familiarize yourself with account recovery processes for key platforms.

How prepared are you to recover your accounts?

#Accounts

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Digital Trust is built, not given.

DYK? 50% of consumers lack confidence in companies’ data protection practices (Source: Deloitte).

Verify the privacy policies and reputations of the platforms you use.

What builds your trust in a digital platform?

#DigitalTrust

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Your first New Year's resolution: Secure your digital life.

DYK? 92% of people want to improve their digital security habits in the new year (Source: Pew Research).

Review all your account passwords and enable MFA everywhere.

What’s your top cyber resolution for 2025?

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Your data is more valuable than gold.

DYK? The average person’s data is worth $1,200 to cybercriminals (Source: Norton).

Limit the personal information you share online and review privacy settings.

How do you protect your data privacy?

#DataPrivacy

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Your inbox is a treasure chest for hackers.

DYK? Over 90% of cyberattacks start with phishing emails (Source: Cisco).

Use email filters to block spam and enable multi-factor authentication for access.

What’s your advice for email security? Share your tips!

#EmailSecurity

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Fraudsters are after more than just your money.

Money is the door.

DYK? Financial fraud losses reached $8.8 billion in 2022 (Source: FTC).

Set up transaction alerts to catch suspicious activity early.

What’s your go-to strategy for protecting your finances?

#Fraud

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Good habits online are your best defense.

DYK? 88% of data breaches are caused by human error (Source: Verizon DBIR).

Review and update your account passwords to minimize risks every 6-8 weeks.

Mark it on your calendar.

What’s your tip for maintaining good cyber hygiene

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Your phone is the new wallet.

And it’s a cybercriminal's favorite target.

DYK? Digital wallet fraud increased by 25% in the last year (Source: Javelin Research).

Enable biometric and multi-factor authentication and monitor wallet activity regularly.

Secure your wallet!

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Your smart devices might not be so smart.

DYK? 57% of IoT devices are vulnerable to medium or high-severity attacks (Source: Unit 42).

Consistently update your passwords on IoT devices and update their firmware regularly.

How do you secure your smart home?

#IoT #Security

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Apps can be more than entertainment.

They can also be threats.

DYK? 64% of mobile apps have at least one critical security vulnerability (Source: Synopsys).

Only download apps from trusted sources and check permissions carefully.

How do you vet apps before downloading?

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Every click could open a door to a hacker.

DYK? 1 in 10 malicious websites are designed to look legitimate (Source: Webroot).

Use browser extensions that detect and block malicious sites.

What tools do you use to ensure secure browsing? Share your recommendations!

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Our data is gold to cybercriminals.

Protecting your personal information is fundamental to your privacy and security.

As we head into 2025, make a plan to defend it.

#DataProtection #DataSecurity #PrivacyPandemic

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

The cloud isn’t always a secure silver lining.

DYK? 93% of cloud breaches are caused by misconfigurations (Source: IBM Security).

Regularly review and update cloud security settings to close vulnerabilities.

How do you secure your cloud accounts?

#CloudSecurity #Privacy

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Hackers target the weakest link: your devices.

DYK? 70% of connected devices have security vulnerabilities (Source: HP).

Make sure to update your device software regularly to patch security vulnerabilities.

What’s your strategy for keeping your devices secure?

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Your password is your first line of defense.

75% of people reuse passwords across multiple accounts.

#PasswordSecurity #StaySafe #PrivacyPandemic

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Identity theft isn’t a one-time event; it’s a growing epidemic.

Stay vigilant and proactive.

#IdentityTheft #OnlineSecurity #Vigilance #PrivacyPandemic

[Chris Smith @Chris_Smith_11]

Ransomware doesn’t just lock files.

It can lock up our lives.

DYK? 37% of global organizations experienced ransomware attacks in 2023 (Source: Sophos).

Regularly back up important data to mitigate ransomware risks.

How do you protect your data against ransomware threats?