Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
January 16, 2026
Cybersecurity Expert Releases Free 15-Minute Digital Safety Checklist
TLDR
- Marissa Arbour's free cybersecurity checklist gives individuals a practical advantage by reducing personal risk and preventing costly identity theft incidents.
- The checklist provides a 15-minute step-by-step self-audit covering password reviews, device checks, phishing awareness, and multi-factor authentication setup.
- This resource makes the world safer by empowering people with clear digital literacy tools that build confidence and prevent cybercrime through better habits.
- Cybersecurity expert Marissa Arbour created a free 15-minute checklist that turns complex security concepts into approachable, practical actions anyone can implement today.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because cybersecurity threats directly impact everyone's daily life and financial security, not just businesses or tech experts. With identity theft affecting 1 in 5 Americans and average losses of $1,300 per incident, individual online safety has become a critical personal finance issue. The resource addresses the human behavior component responsible for 74% of breaches, offering practical solutions for the 60% of people who reuse passwords. By making cybersecurity accessible and actionable in just 15 minutes, this checklist empowers ordinary people to protect their personal information, financial assets, and digital identity without needing technical expertise. In an era where digital interactions dominate daily life, developing basic cybersecurity habits has become as essential as locking your front door.
Summary
Cybersecurity leader Marissa Arbour, a Principal Cybersecurity Analyst and longtime advocate for digital literacy, has released a free Digital Safety Quick-Start Checklist designed to help everyday individuals reduce online risk without needing to become security experts. Based in Alpharetta, Georgia, Arbour brings extensive experience from fintech, banking, healthcare, and education sectors to create this practical resource. Her philosophy centers on making cybersecurity clear, human, and practical, moving away from fear-based approaches toward building confidence through actionable steps.
The checklist addresses critical cybersecurity challenges highlighted by alarming statistics: 1 in 5 Americans has experienced identity theft, the average individual victim loses $1,300 per cybercrime incident, 74% of breaches involve human behavior rather than system failures, and over 60% of people reuse passwords across multiple accounts. Arbour emphasizes that the core problem isn't technology but habits that can be changed through simple, consistent actions. The resource includes a personal password and account review, device and update checks, phishing awareness self-tests, multi-factor authentication setup guidance, and a one-page "digital reset" routine for monthly use.
Designed to be completed in just 15 minutes, the checklist encourages users to set a timer, work through each section without perfectionism, and pick one habit to improve immediately. Arbour warns against common mistakes like waiting until something goes wrong, reusing passwords for convenience, ignoring updates, assuming cybersecurity is only for businesses, and trying to fix everything at once. The cybersecurity analyst, who also mentors women in STEM and teaches digital literacy in local schools, advocates that security starts with small choices and that the best time to begin is now. Users are encouraged to download the free Digital Safety Quick-Start Checklist, use it once, share it with one other person, and set monthly reminders to revisit it.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Cybersecurity Expert Releases Free 15-Minute Digital Safety Checklist
