The end of the year is a prime time for cybercriminals — holiday shopping peaks, inboxes overflow with deals, and people let their guard down as they wrap up the year. Before stepping into the New Year, take time to refresh your digital safety habits. These 8 smart cyber practices help protect your personal information, devices, and online identity all year long.
1. Update Your Passwords (and Make Them Stronger)
Weak or reused passwords create easy entry points for cybercriminals. Refresh your logins with strong, unique passwords — and consider using a password manager to keep them secure.
Helpful resource:
The Cybersecurity Pocket Guide outlines best practices for creating and managing stronger passwords.
2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication Everywhere You Can
MFA adds an extra shield of security by requiring more than just a password. Turn it on for your email, banking apps, social media, and online shopping accounts.
3. Clean Up Old Accounts & Subscriptions
If you haven’t used an app, newsletter, or online account in the last 12 months, delete it. Fewer accounts mean fewer potential data leaks.
4. Watch Out for Holiday Phishing Scams
Fake delivery notices, gift card requests, donation scams — December brings them all. Be skeptical of unexpected messages and hover over links before clicking.
Helpful resource:
AI-generated phishing is on the rise. The Insider Threat Awareness Pocket Guide helps users recognize suspicious behavior from both external and internal sources.
5. Review Social Media Privacy Settings
End-of-year posts, travel photos, and shared memories can expose personal details. Tighten your privacy settings and limit what’s visible to the public.
For families:
The Social Media Safety Tips for Parents Quadfold is a great resource for setting safer digital expectations at home.
6. Update Every Device — Yes, All of Them
Phones, laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, smart appliances, routers — they all need updates. Patches fix vulnerabilities that cybercriminals actively exploit.
7. Secure Your Wi-Fi Before Guests Arrive
Holiday gatherings often mean more devices joining your home network. Strengthen your Wi-Fi password and consider setting up a guest network.
8. Back Up Your Data One Last Time Before Year-End
A clean backup protects your memories, work files, and financial data from accidental loss or malware infections. Set your devices to back up automatically in the new year.
Conclusion
Cyber safety isn’t just a once-a-year task — but there’s no better time than the end of the year to reset habits, strengthen security, and safeguard your digital life. These simple steps help ensure you enter the New Year protected and prepared.