CYBERSECURITY in terms of section 109(1)(a) of the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014
What is Cyber Security
Cyber security is the state of being protected against the criminal, unauthorised or negligent use of electronic data, as well as the measures taken to achieve this. The protection of electronic systems to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability.
The importance of cyber security is growing because of the fact that cyberattacks are becoming more frequent and sophisticated. The data stored in the databases of law firms, is becoming more valuable.
Cyber Security TIPS:
- Do not click on links that you do not recognise.
- Do not open attachments in unknown emails.
- Enquire, does the instruction appear usual or unusual in terms of the sender.
- Password protection: create complex passwords, staff not to share passwords and do not give the password of your computer or phone to anyone.
- Make sure you know where you are sending your data.
- Instead of using free Wi-Fi, use personal hotspots, it is safer.
- Be alert of: poor spelling, odd grammar, emails that ask for personal or financial information.
- Use virtual private network and dongles.
- Have a regular data clear out.
- Refrain from using personal devices for professional matters.
- Turn on your browser’s popup blocker, while browsing.
- Before you enter any personal information, check for a padlock icon on your browser’s URL bar to verify that a site is secure.
- AVOID ‘juice jacking’…. This occurs when you use public phone chargers, the port sometimes contains malware to copy personal information or infect the device.