Ringing in 2025 is the perfect time to organize our online lives and reflect on our current cybersecurity habits. With cyber threats constantly evolving, conducting a health check on devices, accounts, and habits is essential. The WashU Awareness, Behavior, and Culture (ABC) team has identified five key areas to help us take the first steps toward securing our personal and professional information in 2025.
1. Secure Your Most Critical Account: Email
Strengthening your email security is one of the most effective steps you can take this year. Your email is the key to your digital life—it unlocks not only personal and professional communications but also any connected accounts.
Get started with these tips:
- Reset your password to a strong, unique one.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
- Unsubscribe from unnecessary emails to reduce clutter.
- Report spam to improve your email provider’s filters.
By securing your email, you establish a solid foundation for protecting the rest of your connected accounts.
2. Lockdown Your Digital World: Passwords
Passwords remain the cornerstone of cybersecurity. In addition to locking down your email, prioritize updating and managing your passwords.
Take these steps:
- Update passwords and avoid reusing them —especially for critical accounts like email, banking, or work systems.
- Set up a password manager to securely store and organize your passwords. It is a helpful way to manage the growing number of accounts we all maintain.
- Upgrade to passkeys or enable MFA where available.
Well-managed passwords reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts.
3. Safeguard the Everyday: Smart Home and Vehicle
As smart devices and connected vehicles become common, they also pose new cybersecurity risks. Protect them as you would any online account.
For smart home devices (e.g., cameras, thermostats):
- Always change default passwords when setting up the device.
- Enable auto firmware updates to keep your devices secure.
- Look for the gear icon or “settings” in the device app, or search online for instructions specific to your device to get started.
For vehicles:
- Ensure your software is up to date and that automatic updates are enabled.
- To verify, consult online resources or reach out to your dealership for guidance tailored to your specific vehicle.
- Disable unused features like remote access or Wi-Fi hotspots to reduce attack points.
- Delete any personal data from shared or rented vehicles when you are finished using them.
Securing smart home devices and vehicles as they become more common helps reduce the risk of cybercriminals targeting these innovative technologies.
4. Protect The Gateway to Your Data: Smart Phones
Your smartphone is not just for communication—it holds a wealth of sensitive information.
Start with these key steps:
- Install updates promptly for the latest security patches.
- Set up your lock screen with a PIN, password, or biometrics.
- Auditing app permissions regularly, especially for apps that access sensitive data like location, photos, or contacts. For example, a running app needs location access but does not require full access to your photo library.
Taking control of your phone’s security settings can reduce your risk of data breaches and misuse.
5. Share Wisely, Stay Secure: Social Media
Hackers can exploit personal details you share online to launch phishing attacks or commit identity theft.
Safeguard your social media presence with these steps:
- Enable MFA.
- Use strong, unique passwords for each platform.
- Limit what you share publicly, especially sensitive details like vacation plans.
- Regularly review privacy settings to control who sees your posts.
Make 2025 your most secure year yet! Small changes in daily habits today can lead to significant improvements in digital security and peace of mind.
For additional support or guidance, reach out to the WashU Office of Information Security (OIS) at infosec@wustl.edu.
Download or Print the Checklist here: 2025 Cybersecurity Checklist
References:
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2023). FBI highlights online safety tips during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. FBI. Retrieved January 16, 2025, from https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/norfolk/news/fbi-highlights-online-safety-tips-during-cybersecurity-awareness-month
PCMag. (2024). Protect your smart home from hackers. PCMag. Retrieved January 16, 2025, from https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/protect-your-smart-home-from-hackers
Consumer Reports. (n.d.). Account security checkups. Security Planner. Retrieved January 16, 2025, from https://securityplanner.consumerreports.org/tool/account-security-checkups