Secure Our World: 4 Everyday Habits That Stop Cyber Attacks

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025, a great reminder for organisations worldwide to take stock of how they protect themselves against always advancing digital threats.

This year’s theme, “Secure Our World”, is a familiar one, but the context feels very different. Phishing emails are more sophisticated than ever thanks to AI. Deepfakes and voice clones make social engineering harder to spot, and while attackers’ tools keep advancing, one thing hasn’t changed: human error is still the number one cause of security breaches.

At MetaCompliance, we believe Security Awareness Month should be more than posters on the wall or a once-a-year awareness session. It’s all about helping people build habits that last, because that’s what reduces real-world risk.

So, let’s revisit the Core 4 habits that still matter, and why making them part of everyday behaviour is the most practical way to “Secure Our World.”

The Core 4 Habits

1. Strong passwords (and less reuse)

We all know we should use strong passwords, yet research shows most people still take shortcuts. According to NordPass, the world’s most common password in 2024 was still “123456”. Even in organisations with strict policies, password reuse across multiple accounts is widespread.

The problem is that once one password is stolen, attackers can use it to access other accounts; a technique known as credential stuffing. The result is data breaches, downtime, and in many cases, reputational damage.

The human risk angle:

Staff don’t avoid strong passwords because they don’t care about security, they avoid them because they’re hard to remember. Human Risk Management (HRM) means helping people work with their natural behaviours. Password managers, single sign-on, and learning that reframes passwords as part of daily hygiene (like locking your front door) make it far more likely staff will actually comply.

2. Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

MFA remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to stop attackers in their tracks. Microsoft estimates it can prevent 99.9%  of account compromise attacks, yet adoption is still patchy, especially outside IT departments.

Why? Because MFA is often seen as inconvenient or unnecessary. People think “my password is strong enough” or they get frustrated with extra steps.

The human risk angle:

Embedding MFA should really be seen as a behaviour change project. Leaders need to show why it matters, make the process as seamless as possible, and give staff confidence that a few seconds of extra effort could protect the entire organisation.

3. Software updates

Outdated software is one of the easiest ways for attackers to get in. Patching might not sound exciting, but unpatched systems are consistently linked to ransomware incidents and large-scale breaches.

From a staff perspective, updates are often seen as a nuisance – “Remind me later” feels easier than hitting restart. That tiny delay can open the door to serious vulnerabilities.

The human risk angle:

Human risk management (HRM)  is all about reframing updates from disruption to protection. Clear comms, role-specific reminders, and IT policies that work with people’s schedules (not against them) help make updates a normal, low-effort habit rather than a task to avoid.

4. Spotting phishing attempts

Phishing is still the leading attack vector and with AI now drafting emails that are grammatically perfect and context-aware, the old tell-tale signs of “bad English” or “odd formatting” isn’t as reliable.

The good news is that phishing relies on tricking people into acting quickly; clicking a link, downloading a file, or entering credentials before they think twice. Awareness campaigns that train staff to pause, check, and verify can dramatically reduce click-through rates.

The human risk angle:

We don’t want to encourage endless learning modules, but to give your staff the tools they need to stop and question before acting. Simulations, posters, and quick reminders keep the skill fresh and top of mind.

From Awareness to Everyday Habits

Cyber Security Awareness Month is valuable because it shines a spotlight on the problem. But the real challenge for organisations is what happens in November, December, and beyond.

Awareness alone isn’t enough. Everyone knows they should lock their phone, update their apps, and check before clicking. But without habits, knowledge fades and risky behaviour creeps back in.

That’s why Human Risk Management (HRM) is so powerful. It’s about moving beyond compliance and focusing on how people actually behave day-to-day:

• Simple, repeatable actions: Encouraging small steps staff can take without friction.
• Practical reinforcement: Toolkits, posters, and campaigns that keep messages visible.
• Positive framing: Showing staff that security isn’t about blame, but protecting each other and the business.

In other words, Awareness Month is the catalyst. HRM is what makes the habits last.

Practical Support for Awareness Month

If you’re planning campaigns for Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025, you don’t have to start from scratch. We’ve developed a set of free resources designed to make Awareness Month easy to run in your organisation:

Our CSAM toolkit includes practical, ready-to-use resources that make password best practice easier to remember and embed:

• Awareness posters — eye-catching visuals that reinforce good habits in communal areas and keep security front of mind.
• Eye-catching screensavers — timely reminders that appear on screen to nudge staff toward smarter choices throughout the day.
• Handy cyber security awareness planner — a structured guide to help you roll out campaigns and activities consistently across the year.
• Infographic — a clear, visual breakdown of do’s and don’ts, perfect for team briefings or intranet pages.
• Checklist: 5 Steps to Help You Secure Our World — a simple, actionable list employees can follow when creating or updating passwords.

Download your toolkit now.

How MetaCompliance Can Help 

Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025 is a chance to cut through the noise and remind people that the basics still matter. AI scams, phishing sophistication, and new threats will always emerge, but if organisations can embed the Core 4 habits, they’ll dramatically reduce their exposure to risk. 

At MetaCompliance, we’re here to make that shift from awareness to action easier. 

Download our free resources to get started with your Awareness Month campaign, or book a free consultation to find out how our Human Risk Management platform can help reduce risk across your organisation.