How we can Mend Millennials' Love/Hate Relationship with Cyber Security

Technology makes the millennial world go round. Our generation is constantly seeking quick solutions with apps and gadgets to make our lives significantly simpler. Although we've developed a strong love affair with the technologies that run our day-to-day lives, our relationship with the cyber security precautions necessary to protect them has historically been a bit rocky.

Rather than taking the steps necessary to protect personal information online, millennials are often opting out of the extra work and ignoring important cyber security measures. Sure, it's convenient to throw online caution to the wind now, but what could that cost our generation later?
The key to protecting millennials' online is to make cyber security efforts simpler. Here are the five ways I recommend we make online safety easier in our efforts to mend the love/hate relationship between millennials and cyber security.

1.Offer alternative password storage
Recent reports show that 59% of millennials are storing passwords in their browsers. Saving your login info in your browser is definitely the simplest way to navigate through your commonly used online profiles, but it also puts you at serious risk for online attacks.
Instead of storing your login info in your browser, opt for a more secure storage option. PC World offers up a solid guide to secure password storage options that could help millennials keep track of logins without compromising safety online.

2.Make secondhand devices safer
The millennial generation is full of students and entry level employees who are looking to save a buck where they can. This means that when their phones or other devices break, they often look to secondhand options for replacement. Although this can be a safe option, it's important that you take the necessary steps to ensure your online security prior to completing the transaction.
For sellers, it's important to make sure all accounts and information linked to your device are removed. Naturally, you should run a factory reset on your iOS or Android device, but you should also remove iCloud and Gmail accounts to make sure your information doesn't get into the wrong hands.
For those purchasing a device, it will be important to make sure the seller has removed his or her iCloud or Gmail account from your phone. If the account has yet to be removed, there are now options to help you remove them. If you neglect to remove the previous user's account, they could log in at any time and lock you out of the device you purchased.

3.Compromise on free WiFi (at least use encrypted networks!)
Free WiFi at coffee shops and cafes is a fabulous resource for young adults looking to get some work done on the go. The problem is, not all WiFi networks can be trusted. Although it would be ideal to avoid public WiFi all together, that's simply not a reasonable assertion for the millennial generation. A fair compromise would be to suggest that millennials only connect to encrypted networks.
Sticking to encrypted networks can also help online users ensure that they are connecting to the official WiFi network at their location and avoid hackers who set up fake networks to lure in unsuspecting internet users. CNET offers up a fantastic guide with additional tips to help internet users stay safe on public WiFi networks.

4.Break trust in emails from "trusted" sources
It's not unusual for our banks, utility providers, and housing associations to send us recent account activity updates and statements via email. This has made us fairly trusting of any emails sent from these sources because we can usually assume that they are safe. The problem is, hackers are catching on.
A new trend in cybercrime is to send a link in a well-written email that looks like it is from a popular bank or utility company. When a user clicks the link in their fake email, malware is installed on the device.
To avoid this scam, be sure to pull up all links sent to you separately in your browser. If the email is from a site you recognize, visit the site itself first then log in through a trusted portal. If it is from a site you do not recognize, use your best judgment to determine whether or not the link can be trusted. Do you know the sender? Does the url look legit? Can you visit the site's home page first?

5.Stress the importance of up-to-date security software
One of the most important things the millennial generation needs to understand about cyber security is ignoring security software updates puts them at serious risk for online attacks. Although software update notifications can be a bit annoying, it's worth it to take the time to click through and install the latest version of security software on your device when prompted. The longer a device runs with outdated security software, the more vulnerable it is to online attacks.

Whether you yourself are a millennial, or you know a millennial who could stand to shape up their online security game, I hope that you take these tips to heart and start helping yourself and/or others improve your/their relationship with cyber security!