Why not start a tradition this year with a New Year’s resolution to improve your cybersecurity behaviors? One way to do this is to complete a cybersecurity best practice checklist. In addition to the four strong cybersecurity behaviors we frequently feature, please review the additional recommended checklist items and supporting resources below to help you kick off a more secure 2025.

Secure your home network. Even if you don’t share sensitive information online, you probably have personal records and information on your computers, smart home assistants, and other digital devices. Securing your home network—the direct link between you and the internet—helps make these devices less susceptible to cyber-attacks.

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – How to Secure Your Home Wi-Fi Network

• National Security Agency (NSA) – Best Practices for Securing Your Home Network

Clean up accounts. Delete accounts you no longer use.

Teach your children about being cyber secure. Regular, open conversations about appropriate online behavior and information sharing are critical to helping children learn, socialize, and explore securely online.

• National Cybersecurity Alliance – Getting Kids and Teens to Care about Cybersecurity

• Federal Bureau of Investigation – Online Safety Public Service Announcement

Conduct an annual review of your digital footprint. Securing privacy settings and limiting what you share online helps protect you from phishing attacks and identity theft.

• Review postings on social media and networking accounts for oversharing and remove personal information.

• Update all security and privacy settings to restrict who can see your posts. Use Keeping Safe on Social Media, from the NSA, as a guide.