The Times Square ball has dropped, the parties are over, and people are back to their daily lives. As we move from 2024 to 2025, many people have made New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier, exercise more, or spend more time with family and friends — all admirable goals.

At Defending Digital Campaigns (DDC), we want you to add making yourself more cyber-secure in 2025 and beyond to your list of resolutions. It’s easy to get started, and you won’t have to count calories or hit the gym four times a week! Some measures of protection are just set it and forget it.

Unlike most computer users who are predominantly targets of cybercriminals, if you work on a campaign, for a committee, a vendor in the political sector, a political organization, or you are an elected or government official, YOU are a high-risk computer user. Your personal accounts face higher risk because, in addition to cybercriminals, you could face threats from or be targeted by nation-states and hacktivists who have goals to interfere with our political process or conduct espionage.

Cyberattacks during the 2024 campaign season were widespread (you can read our blog about it here). We fully expect the same, if not more, activity going forward in 2025 and the midterms.

So make your resolution now to be more secure in the New Year and the years ahead. When you resolve to make yourself more secure, know that there is a halo effect and you are helping protect others around you.

Everyone can be more secure in the New Year if they take these steps:

Use a passkey and forget your passwords: Gaining access to your accounts is the number one goal of all bad actors. Therefore, your number one resolution is to protect your accounts. Passkeys are the most secure digital credential you can use. They are free and available from most major internet services. Learn more about passkeys in DDC’s Knowledge Base here.
Protect your social accounts: When was the last time you reviewed your privacy and security settings on the social media platforms you or your organization uses? Are you taking advantage of the extra security offered? Check out how to add added security features on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and TikTok.
Sign up for Google’s Advanced Protection Program (APP): APP is designed exactly for users like you. It provides added protections across Google’s platform and can be activated on personal and organizational accounts. Learn how to turn on APP with a passkey here.
Protect your Microsoft account with a passkey: Running on a PC or using Microsoft products? Lock them down with a passkey. Learn more here.
Ask us to nominate you for Meta’s Advanced Protection Program: We can help you get enrolled in Meta’s program to protect Facebook and Instagram accounts with heightened security. Learn more here.
Once you have resolved to protect yourself and, of course, done it, take a few steps to protect the campaign or organization you work for. These products are available to high-risk organizations and campaigns:
- Fast-track your way to stronger Google Workspace security: Get a one-click button added to your Workspace domain to immediately configure 26 security settings. Learn more here.
- Fast track your Microsoft Environment to better protections with Account Guard: Microsoft AccountGuard is a cybersecurity service that adds an extra layer of protection to the high-risk, highly-targeted organizations, including those in the political, elections, journalism, think tank, human rights, and nonprofit sectors. Learn more here.
If you are a Federal Campaign, state party, or down-ballot in Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, or Virginia, you could be eligible for even more free services from DDC. Just email info@defendcampaigns.org with the subject: help make my campaign more cyber-secure, and we’ll set up a call with DDC's onboarding team to review your current practices and learn how DDC can help get our cybersecurity up and running with:
- Free Security keys to protect against unauthorized account access
- Tools to defend against impersonation on social media and email
- Website and mobile device protection
- And more!
Let’s make 2025 the most cybersecure year ever!