Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Your Safety Starts With You!

The entire month of October was observed as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. It’s a time for us to reflect on how we protect ourselves and our organisations in the digital world.

The events of the past week alone have demonstrated why we need to be vigilant. Since the passage of Hurricane Melissa, several scams have emerged seeking to take advantage of people’s sympathy and kindness through sites mimicking the Jamaican government’s official website for accepting donations, supportjamaica.gov.jm, and the JN Group’s platform isupportjamaica.com.

As cyber threats evolve, remember that with awareness and proactive habits, we can stay a step ahead. Being informed and vigilant is your strongest defence, especially as awareness can stop a threat before it ever reaches your inbox or devices.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Social engineering is increasing: Manipulation tactics are becoming more convincing. Cybercriminals are using more sophisticated emails, texts and even phone calls to trick you into sharing sensitive information.

2. Ransomware threats continue: Businesses and individuals alike are being targeted. These attacks can lock your data until a ransom is paid.

3. Password vulnerabilities are real: Weak or reused passwords are still one of the easiest ways for attackers to gain access to data.
4. IoT (internet of Things) devices are at risk: Everyday devices connected to the internet that collect, send, or receive data, including smart devices in homes and offices can be entry points for cyber intrusions.

How to Avoid Becoming a Victim

Cybercriminals are relentless, targeting individuals and organisations alike, and the cost of being unprepared can be devastating. You can protect yourself from cyberattacks with these simple steps:

1. Think before you click: Always verify links, attachments and sender emails before opening.

2. Donate only through official channels. The government has confirmed supportjamaica.gov.jm as the legitimate website for hurricane relief and the JN Group has activated isupportjamaica.com, which redirects to the JN Foundation website. Avoid giving money through social media links, messaging apps, or unsolicited emails.

3. Be wary of urgent appeals. Scammers rely on emotional pressure and time-sensitive messages to get quick payments. Take a moment to verify any request before responding.

4. Never share personal or banking details over the phone or via links sent through text or WhatsApp. Legitimate agencies will not ask for this information.
5. Monitor your accounts regularly: Regularly check for fraudulent or unauthorised transactions and turn on alerts and notifications, where possible.

6. Use strong, unique passwords: Never reuse passwords. Each one should be unique to you. Consider using a strong combination of letters, numbers and symbols to make them harder to crack. You can even use phrases.

7. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): This adds a critical extra layer of protection.

8. Keep software updated: Regular updates patch vulnerabilities that attackers exploit.

9. Be cautious with personal information: Limit what you share online and be mindful of social media privacy settings.

10. Report suspicious activity: If something feels off, alert your IT, security team, organisation or the police immediately.

What to Do if You Have Been Targeted

If you believe you have fallen victim to cybercrime, take immediate action.

Ensure that you:

• Change your passwords immediately and enable multi-factor authentication, where available.
• Contact the relevant organisation or police to report the incident and take steps to secure your account and prevent further damage.
• Monitor your accounts for other unauthorised activities.

JN members can contact our Member Care Centre to report fraudulent activities. Our Member Care Centre can be reached toll free at 888-991-4065/6 24 hours every day including weekends and public holidays.

Remember:
Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. By staying informed, cautious and proactive, we reduce risk and protect both our personal and organisational data. Let’s make this Cybersecurity Awareness Month a time to build safer digital habits!