Digital Grimoire: collection #2

A curated collection of recommendations from the Digital Grimoire, designed to help you get started with the basics of digital survival.

Surviving in the Digital Age requires mental sharpness, a bit of outside-the-box thinking, and some essential precautions when using electronic devices or browsing online.

On Cyber Hermetica, you’ll find numerous tips and technical insights to enhance your personal cybersecurity and safeguard your data and digital identity.

This is a collection of recommendations designed to help you get started with the basics of digital survival.

1. Secure your Windows OS

Windows is a popular target for malware, but these measures can bolster your security:

• Use a Non-Administrator Account: Perform daily tasks on a standard account, not an admin account.

• Enable Windows Defender: Regularly update and configure it for optimal performance.

• Manage Updates: Turn on automatic updates to patch vulnerabilities promptly.

• Control Macros in Microsoft Office: Disable macros to prevent attacks via Office files.

• Enable Controlled Folder Access: Protect sensitive directories from ransomware.

• Use BitLocker Encryption: Encrypt your data to safeguard it in case of device theft.

2. Secure your personal USB Drives

USB drives are portable and convenient but often overlooked when it comes to security. Here are ways to keep your data safe:

• Encrypt Your Drive: Use encryption software like VeraCrypt or BitLocker to secure the contents of your USB drive, or use a hardware-encrypted drive, which come with built in encryption which require a PIN for access.

• Keep it Updated: If your drive’s firmware supports updates, ensure it’s running the latest version to patch vulnerabilities.

• Limit Auto-Run: Disable the USB auto-run feature on your computer to prevent malware from executing automatically, especially useful if you need to plug-in unknown USB drives.

• Use Secure Disposal Methods: When you no longer need the USB, securely wipe it to prevent recovery of sensitive data — or better yet: destroy it phisically.

Following these steps will reduce risks of data theft, loss, or malware infection when using USB drives.