By Katharine Marrs
Summer can be a busy time for your house – and your Wi-Fi! Maybe the kids are home from school on break and spending more time on their devices. Family and friends coming to stay for a long weekend may need guest access to your home network. Even your fridge, thermostat, or other smart devices could be online.
Personal cyber insurance may be available as an endorsement to your homeowners policy. This can help you recover from data breaches, online fraud, or identity theft. It can assist with restoration of smart home devices with internet connectivity that become compromised. It may also provide resources like counseling or tutoring if a member of your household is a victim of cyberbullying.
For even more peace of mind, practice good cybersecurity habits, both at home and while traveling. Maintain the latest updates to software and operating systems. Disable automatic connection settings on your devices to avoid public, unsecured networks. A VPN or personal hotspot on your phone is a safer option.
Consider whether it’s necessary to bring work devices with you on vacation. Leaving them at home may be the most secure option. If you do need to do some work while you relax by the pool, enable a lock on your device in case of theft. Biometrics, complex passwords, and multi-factor authentication all offer an extra layer of protection.
