Think of the cybersecurity of your organization as a high-tech fortress of great height. It has walls constructed using state of the art firewalls, its moats full of sophisticated encryption and automated processes monitor the horizon to detect any oncoming threat. We have spent a lot of money on these digital defenses but the biggest vulnerabilities the ones which are the weak points of a computer or a network that can make it vulnerable to exploitation, tend to go around these technical controls like nothing is holding them back. Why? Since the best thing is not to attempt to climb on the walls; but to already be strolling in the front gate under the guise of a smiling face.


The human factor is the welcome to the frontline of the modern cybersecurity. In this case, the most frequent threat is social engineering, which can be simply defined as a non-technical type of intrusion or one based on human interaction. It is a trick that plays on human psychology and not on a code of software. The phishing scam is the most commonly used weapon in this arsenal, and the main object of the purpose is to cheat the internet users into giving personal and financial details.


Building Your First Line of Defense: You.


But how do we strengthen our human firewall? It starts by developing an attitude of healthy skepticism and learning the essential security practices.


The first thing you do is to be watchful in the inbox. The second thing is not to act on the urge to respond to a suspicious mail. Most importantly you must not reply to the email to seek clarification. This is just to ensure that your email address is in good operation and you are an excellent target. Rather, apply the Report Phish feature of your company and then delete the message.


Your email is just but a part of your security posture. One of the basic measures to undertake in protecting your online accounts is not to use the public Wi-Fi networks to engage in sensitive actions. Such networks are not usually secured and may leave your information to anybody who may be eavesdropping. Besides, lock screen passwords or biometric authentication can be set up and physically secure your devices. This is a simple habit and it is your final cover should your device be lost or stolen, and it is essential in safeguarding extremely sensitive information such as the so-called biometric data, which is considered to be strictly confidential personal data.


A Culture of General Surveillance.


Security is an eventual communal effort, and each position possesses its regulations. To a software tester, this translates to the fact that the use of peer-to-peer (P2P) software without permission is a prohibited action that poses a high degree of threat to the corporate net. All should also be informed about the external threats, e.g., an SQL injection attack, which is also a typical instance of an external threat that may undermine the integrity of data of an organization because the attack will take advantage of weak points in the system.


The Failure of Prevention: A Non-hysterical, Right Response.


Despite the most adequate preparation, accidents may happen. In these times, a rapid and accurate reaction is important. In the event that you suspect that your computer is infected, you cannot afford to leave it alone and move on to self-diagnosing it. Rather, you have to close all the programs and switch off the system. Thereafter, consult a qualified expert to maintain, or have an antivirus program, which is reliable, to scan and eliminate any malware.


Technology is the shield but you are the sword. These security practices can be turned into habitual activities giving you the opportunity to become a potential target to a strong guardian. Let us make it our business to create an unbreakable Human Firewall and give our personal protection by making every conscious click.