International Computer Security Day has been around since 1988, when the use of the internet was very much in its early days for many of us. But hacking and viruses have been around since the start, in fact the very reason this awareness day was created was due to something known as the Morris Worm.

An American graduate student named Robert Morris Jr. of Cornell University launched a worm (a type of malware) on to the government's ARPAnet (this was a precursor to the internet). The worm spread to 6,000 networked computers, clogging government and university systems, and bringing a realisation that computer security needed to be highlighted.

And if we jump forward to 2021, hacking and malware have evolved to be far more complex and increasingly sophisticated. This means that there are more security risks, and as much more data is stored by organisations to conduct their daily business, the more lucrative a reward this data has become to the cybercriminal.

We at the Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales (WCRC) want you to increase your cyber resilience by taking simple steps that will significantly reduce your vulnerability to cybercrime. So why not do one thing today to make your computers more secure against an attack?

The WCRC recommends that you create a strong password for each of your accounts. The National Cyber Security Centre suggests using three random words, but if you are not very good at remembering a multitude of passwords, then consider using a password manager.

A password manager will generate a secure password for each of your accounts, and you only have to remember one. Consider using multi-factor authentication (MFA) which adds an additional layer of security to your password by also requiring a code, for example, from an authenticator app/via a text message.

So, this year on International Computer Security Day, don’t let it pass you by, but take this small simple step to make your business more resilient to an online attack.

If you’re not already a member of the WCRC what better time than now to spend a few moments signing up? Core membership is completely free of charge and the centre and its network will guide and support you with all-things cyber security. Take a look at what you’re missing out on.