There are some things that are just plain icky or yucky or gross. It really doesn’t matter what word is used to describe them because the bottom line is that we just don’t go there when it comes to those things.
Take toothbrushes, for example. You wouldn’t share a toothbrush, would you? If you answered yes, then you need to know that the human mouth contains almost the same number of bacteria as a dog’s mouth with estimates in the billions. It’s also highly unlikely, unless you are a mom, that you would accept a gummy bear from a toddler’s hands. Or, invoke the five second rule on a french fry in an airport.
Passwords aren’t – I’m speaking in general terms since I don’t know yours specifically – icky or gross. However, they are things that we shouldn’t share. We shouldn’t give them to a coworker to clock us in. We shouldn’t call the office and have someone log in to a workstation to send us an email.
Similarly, we shouldn’t allow others to tailgate. Tailgating is when you allow someone to follow you into a secure area and they don’t have to present their credentials. We also shouldn’t share data that is subject to different rules and regulations, like personal medical information that falls under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), or student data covered by FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act).
Today’s tip is to increase your cybersecurity posture by NOT SHARING. From time to time, you will be tempted, I know, to share passwords or allow someone who looks legitimate to follow you after you swipe your badge. When that happens – and this is icky – think toothbrush and dog breath.