FROM THE INDUSTRY
Many things including your personal social media direct messages, GPS and photographs can be accessed easily if you are not restricting third-party access to apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok etc. When downloading an app, we will automatically accept a privacy policy without reading them. With so much data used for marketing and advertising, it is a good idea to review the privacy policies of the apps and websites you use to understand how your data is collected and analysed. How to keep safe: Restrict third-party access in the applications you have personal data contained in. Often in the settings of these apps, or in your iPhone’s application settings, there will be a “Revoke Access” button in which you can adjust the setting. Using the same passwords for several accounts 32% of internet users reuse the same password across 5 to 10 websites and apps. This is one of the most risky things you can do, as once a hacker guesses one password, they can guess several. This is where your accounts can be accessed, and personal data can be leaked or tarnished. How to keep safe: increase the difficulty of your password. Make it long with at least 12 characters or more, use a mix of characters both upper and lower-case including symbols and numbers, and avoid using sequential numbers (“1234”) or personal information that someone who knows you might guess, or that might already be online, such as your place of birth or a dog’s name. Keeping unused accounts open Unused accounts that are still open are likely to have weaker passwords and poor data protection policies. Therefore, if your easy-to-access account is still open, it can put you at future risk of having your current accounts hacked. This is because any remaining personal information within this account that is accessed by a cybercriminal could be used against you for further attacks. How to keep safe: Close any old online accounts and request that your data be deleted from the relevant third-party servers.
Carelessly clicking any links Clicking a malicious link can expose your personal data online or infect your device with malware. Normally, malicious links are lurking on things such as online quizzes, free offers, unsolicited adverts, spam emails etc. Often if you are on a website on a particular topic, and then there is an advert to click to something completely different, this should raise alarm bells. How to keep safe: When you are on a website, make sure links click through to relevant or expected topics. As for emails, it is best to avoid opening untrusted emails at all. If you are not sure whether an email is legitimate or not, go directly to the source and follow it up there.
Not using multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is another layer of security that requires you to verify your identity with more than one piece of information before accessing an account. An example of this could be using a fingerprint or facial recognition scan, after entering a password. This layer of security makes it harder for hackers to access your account, even if they have your password. How to keep safe: Enable MFA whenever possible, especially for accounts that contain sensitive or valuable information, such as banking, social media, or email accounts. You can do this in the setting of any of your email accounts and there are some apps also dedicated to layering this security across several of your apps. Oversharing online Social media is great for sharing your whereabouts with friends and family. However, many people forget that social media sites are still a public domain and can be accessed widely. If a cybercriminal has their eye on you as a potential victim, any information such as full name, date of birth, home address, contact number, email address, photos, or videos can help them get a step closer to hacking you.
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Volume 46 No.1 March 2024
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