What does the term "cyber hygiene" refer to?

The term "cyber hygiene" refers to practicing safe computing habits and data protection. This concept encompasses a variety of proactive measures that individuals and organizations can take to maintain their cybersecurity posture. Just as personal hygiene involves daily habits that promote good health, cyber hygiene involves adopting regular practices that help prevent cyber threats.

These practices typically include using strong, unique passwords, being cautious about the links and attachments in emails, avoiding suspicious websites, and regularly reviewing account security settings. It also emphasizes the importance of awareness and training for users to recognize potential threats, such as phishing attempts and malware, ensuring they take steps to protect sensitive information and systems.

While maintaining system hardware, conducting software updates, and cleaning physical devices can be important aspects of overall IT security, they are not the core focus of cyber hygiene. Instead, cyber hygiene is fundamentally about ingraining safe digital behavior and promoting a culture of security awareness in everyday computing activities.