City of Raleigh IT Offers Cyber Safety Tips for October’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and the City of Raleigh IT Department sees this as the perfect time to educate North Carolinians on how to fight against threats lurking online.

According to this FBI Internet Crime Report, over 800,000 cybercrime complaints were filed last year alone. As technology advances, scammers and thieves are constantly developing sneakier tactics to steal your personal information and even your money. And these methods can be nearly impossible for the untrained eye to detect.

Fortunately, the City of Raleigh IT Department has provided a few helpful tips to aid the fight against cybercrime. The full list can be found here, but here's a general overview of what you need to know:

Implementing a secondary method of identification online can go a long way in keeping your accounts extra safe. You can set it up where you and only you receive a special code exclusive to your account, thereby allowing you access to your private information that anyone without that code wouldn't be able to access. Sure, it can be a little tedious constantly getting texts or calls to confirm your ID, but it's a small price to pay to ensure proper cybersecurity.

Updating your personal devices help patch up any potential weak points in your system's OS, which prevents would-be hackers from slipping in and doing damage. It's totally worth the extra 5 minutes or so it takes to install the updates.

Please, PLEASE don't use "password" as your actual password. The longer the password and the more numbers and special symbols used, the more protected your accounts are. It also helps to create passwords that you can easily remember without having to write them down anywhere.

A lot of it comes down to basic common sense. Be wary of opening up any emails from unfamiliar accounts. Don't click on any links you don't recognize, especially if it's not from a trustworthy source. And avoid giving out personal information like social security numbers or credit card numbers. A good rule of thumb is that if you didn't personally contact them first, then it's probably not a good idea to give any personal info.

To summarize, you can practice effective cyber safety by enabling multi-factor authentication, constantly updating your software, using strong passwords, and practicing sound decision-making when faced with questionable emails or links. All of this should help you have a happy and safe Cybersecurity Awareness Month!

Using public restrooms might not seem like rocket science, but the moment you step into that bathroom, there's a code of etiquette to follow. It's all about not giving anyone the cringe-worthy vibes, especially when they're handling their business. Unfortunately, quite a few people haven't quite grasped bathroom manners.

Public restrooms are essential facilities that serve a crucial purpose in our daily lives. However, maintaining proper etiquette in these shared spaces is essential for the comfort and well-being of everyone who uses them. Understanding what not to do in a public restroom can go a long way in ensuring a positive experience for all.

Certain unwritten public restroom guidelines are universal among most people. Take, for example, the unspoken agreement not to choose a stall right next to an occupied one in a multiple-stall restroom. It might sound a tad extreme, but there's something oddly unsettling about sharing such limited privacy with a complete stranger. Another rule of thumb is to steer clear of using the handicapped stall unless it's meant for you. You never know when someone might genuinely need it, and finding yourself on the receiving end of that awkward situation is far from ideal.

Furthermore, if your goal is to keep the public restroom experience as unawkward as possible, avoid using your phone while in there. For some people, it can come across as unsettling when you're waiting in line in front of someone who's busy scrolling through their phone. Especially in today's era of oversharing on social media and the inexplicable urge that some people have to document every moment.

Occasionally, public restrooms can present some strange situations. So, before you head into the bathroom, here are nine tips on public restroom etiquette. And, of course, how to avoid those awkward situations.

Feel free to touch up your makeup or give your teeth a quick brush. But skip the complex routines like flossing, clipping your nails, or shaving. Keep phone calls at bay, and save emails and browsing for later. Remember, public bathrooms are riskier for hygiene. According to Health, a health and lifestyle website, illnesses like COVID-19, flu, and colds can be found on surfaces. So, minimize your time there for safety's sake.

If you spot someone you know, a nod is perfectly okay. No need to shake hands! In fact, CNN reported that only 5% of people who used the bathroom washed their hands long enough to kill the germs that can cause infections. It's risky to assume otherwise. No one needs to guess where your hands were. Wet handshakes are bad, worse if it's mystery liquid.

Avoid engaging in conversations between stalls or near urinals. This holds particularly true within the office environment, where you can't be certain if a colleague or supervisor is in the adjacent stall, potentially overhearing any complaints or gossip you share. A Redditor shared their frustration on the discussion board saying that talking in stalls should only be for, "Can you pass me some toilet paper? This ones out" or "Crap. Do you have a tampon?"

Staying connected is great, thanks to our trusty smartphones always being by our side. But let's not take them to the bathroom. Besides the germs, it can get awkward. The person on your call hears bathroom noises and flushes. The nearby stall occupant gets only half the conversation, making the shared bathroom uncomfortable.

You're eyeing a solo bathroom, uncertain if it's taken. Start with a knock on the door. No response? Next, put your hand on the doorknob and carefully turn it to one side. Did it open? If not, odds are someone's inside, so hold on. No need to shake the handle like you've never met a doorknob. That's a surefire method to give the person inside a shock. And just in case the person in the restroom forgot to lock the door, at least all your bases are covered.

There are some people who think they're maintaining hygiene by flushing toilets with their feet. In reality, this is one of the least hygienic actions. Shoes aren't clean, particularly after navigating a public restroom, exposing them to unclean surfaces. This transfers germs where others touch. If you're concerned about germs, consider using a piece of toilet paper to operate the flush handle.

Tidy up after use. This rule covers all areas of the restroom. After you're done, take a look at the seat and floor, and clean as needed. To put it simply, be considerate and give your seat a wipe. This also pertains to the sink. While soap is clean, leaving a large blob under the dispenser isn't polite behavior.

According to Geisinger, a health organization, studies indicate the average time spent in the restroom is about 12 seconds. Occasionally, it might take longer, but it's generally recommended not to exceed 10 minutes. So, if you find yourself scrolling through Instagram and Facebook during your bathroom time, you may want to reconsider. Keep in mind that others may be waiting their turn, and lingering around the restroom door isn't the most comfortable scenario. On the other hand, if the restroom is occupied, it's courteous to step away and return later. It's unnecessary to wait outside the door, which could potentially be embarrassing for the occupant. However, if waiting is not feasible, forming a line is an acceptable option.

Making stall doors with a gap has benefits. If the door went all the way down, people couldn't see if someone needed help. The gap helps in emergencies and lets responders assist without breaking in. Also, the gap can stop actions like sex or drug use, in stalls. But don't make things weird by staring at people through them. That's just uncomfortable.