Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Dear Business Filer,

Social media can be a great tool for business owners, but it also presents possible cybersecurity threats you might not think about. Below are 5 helpful tips to staying cybersecure while using social media for your business to implement during Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
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Sincerely,

Paul D. Pate
Iowa Secretary of State

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5 TIPS TO STAYING

CYBERSECURE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

With every social media account you sign up for, picture you post, & status you update, you are sharing information about yourself with the world. Take these simple steps to connect with confidence & safely navigate the social media world.

1. NEVER CLICK & TELL
Seemingly random details are all a criminal needs to know to target you, your loved ones, & your physical belongings. Keep personal information such as your full name, address, birthday, or even vacation plans off the Internet. Disable location services that allow anyone to see where you are, & where you aren't, at any given time. 

2. REPORT SUSPICIOUS OR HARASSING ACTIVITY
Work with your social media platform to report & possibly block harassing users. Report an incident if you've been a victim of a cybercrime. Local & national authorities are ready to help you.

3. THERE IS NO 'DELETE' BUTTON
Just because you delete a post or picture from your profile seconds after posting, chances are someone still saw it.

4. UPDATE YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS
Set the privacy & security settings to your comfort level for information sharing. Disable geotagging, which allows anyone to see where you are, & where you aren't, at any given time.

5. CONNECT ONLY WITH PEOPLE YOU TRUST
While some social networks might seem safer for connecting because of the limited personal information shared through them, keep your connections to people you know & trust.
 
 
These tips and tricks to help secure your business from cyber threats while on social media are provided by CISA.

For more information about how you can Do Your Part to #BeCyberSmart, visit www.cisa.gov/ncsam



Office of the Iowa Secretary of State
State Capitol
​Des Moines, IA 50319