June is Internet Safety Month, which makes it the perfect time to audit your online habits. It’s the time of the year to run down an Internet Safety Checklist, and safeguard your campaigns, your clients, and your reputation from evolving cyber threats.
Below are the two core Internet Safety Checklists made specifically for media buyers and advertising professionals. They cover everything from protecting personal information to defending against cyber attacks.
Take a moment and check yourself before you wreck yourself.
Daily Digital Hygiene Checklist
The best internet safety practices start with daily routines:
1. Back Up Your Work Daily
Protect your critical data by backing up your campaigns, landing pages, and analytics tools like Keitaro Tracker. Daily backups ensure you can recover fast if anything goes wrong.
2. Use Strong Passwords and Manage Them Well
Use unique, complex passwords for each platform and store them in a secure password management tool. Never reuse login details across services.
3. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Turn on authentication MFA (also known as factor authentication) on all important tools, including ad platforms, analytics tools, and email. It’s one of the simplest ways to prevent identity theft.
4. Update Software and Operating Systems Regularly
Keep your operating systems, browsers, plugins, antivirus software, and advertising tools fully updated. Outdated tools are a common entry point for cyber attacks.
5. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Whenever you’re working remotely or on public Wi-Fi, use a virtual private network. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and adds a protective layer against interception.
6. Secure Your Mobile Device
Don’t overlook your phone. Media buyers often work on the go, so keep your mobile device protected with biometric locks and remote wipe options.
Media Buying Online Safety Checklist
The online safety of your campaigns and your business largely depends on these simple practices:
1. Apply Access Control Principles
Use the principle of least privilege. Give each person only the level of access they need. Regularly review and remove outdated user accounts to maintain accuracy and security.
2. Standardize Remote Access
Limit remote access to secure methods like VPNs and SSH keys. Avoid using remote desktop tools without encryption to protect your network security.
3. Monitor Network Traffic
Use firewalls and security tools to track network traffic. Unusual spikes, unknown devices, or high outbound data usage can indicate early-stage cyber threats.
4. Automate Your Security Tasks
Schedule automatic updates, daily backups, antivirus scans, and log checks. Automation reduces human error and ensures consistency.
5. Watch for Ad Fraud
Check your traffic for unusual behavior like high bounce rates or fake conversions at least daily. Use anti-fraud tools.
6. Verify Tracking and Script Integrity
Audit your tags, pixels, and API integrations. Tampered scripts can leak data or inject malicious code into your campaigns.
7. Work Only With Transparent Partners
Make sure your affiliate networks, ad tech, and mar tech partners are upfront about how they handle data and what security measures they have in place.
8. Protect Personal and Identifying Information
Be cautious with the collection and storage of identifying information like email addresses, IPs, and behavioral data. Store it securely and only collect what’s necessary in compliance with local regulations.
9. Respect Data Privacy Regulations
Laws like GDPR and CCPA require clear, ethical handling of personal information. Ensure your campaigns comply, and always disclose data collection practices to users.
10. Avoid Suspicious Emails and Links
Train your team to never click on links in unsolicited messages or unfamiliar emails. Phishing remains a common tactic used in cyber attacks.
11. Maintain a Safety Checklist
Create your own living document to track your security practices. A monthly security checklist makes it easy to review what’s working and what’s not, and helps you stay aligned with industry standards.
These two Internet Safety Checklists will help you build a better, safer ecosystem for everyone involved, including yourself.
