As the sun sets on 2023's National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, I want to offer a last bit of advice by asking a question:
What is the the most widely-used computer across the world?
I'll give you a hint: it's not a laptop.
It's your phone! Mobile computing technology had made your phone both smaller and smarter. It's now more powerful (by being faster) than most laptops.
All the time we talk about cybersecurity, we aren't thinking of the machine in our hand. We're thinking traditionally: laptop for sure, desktop if we're older. There is a reason that anti-virus software companies offer a mobile version. And it isn't just for *your* phone - they have home and business packages for multiple phone-plans.
Note: makes sure automatic updates are on. If you can't afford anything other than the free version, some of them - like Malwarebytes - requires you to trigger the updates yourself after the initial trial period.
I don't care if you don't get the bells and whistles, especially as a small business soloprenuer, just do something to protect your phone, where a lot of your data is stored for your business (because you use it so much for that!). However, be vigilant about those updates when you chose to not upgrade to the paid version!
What else should you be protecting? Your tablet. A lot of shops use tablets for the POS systems. Losing them to a malware attack is like having them stolen with the benefit of them also knocking out the rest of your stuff on the way out the door. Plan for a back-up but do your best to make sure you don't need to use it...by protecting it with anti-virus software.
All of these steps are part of a business continuity plan (surprise, surprise...).
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