Wow, being stuck home in this pandemic COVID-19 has given me more free time away from "important" things to check up on ALL my forgotten things, such as this blog! Time flies like an arrow.....whheeeeee went past me and it seems like only yesterday I was here.
So, with everyone staying away from each other, with mandatory lockdowns in certain countries and locations, how have we been keeping up?
Well, if you are like me, you would probably be stuck in front of your PC, iPad, iPhone, and mobiles Zooming, Facebooking and You Tubing lots. With everyone heading towards being online to stay connected, have you done any online safety checks to ensure that you and your loved ones are surfing safely, and not exposing private and sensitive information about yourself and your family online?
Just months ago, my son was hit by a phishing mail and in his morning drowsiness, he clicked on the link and entered his email and password to try to log in a few times before he woke up and realised what was happening. Of course, he took quick actions to correct the matter, and we hope his identity has not been successfully stolen for misuse.
So what can we do to reduce our risks and be safe on the internet? Well, here are some online safety tips that we should practice and teach our kids:
1. Passwords
- Make sure it is not to use your birthdate, home address or mobile number which may be easily guessed by people who have access to this information.
- Ensure you have different and unique passwords for every online account you have. This is to ensure that if you get hacked in one account, it makes it harder to access all your other known online accounts. If you need to, get a password manager app to help you remember your passwords.
- Never share your password with another, not even your best friend! Nothing is permanent, and your best friend may turn to be the worst enemy in the future!
- Ensure you stow your passwords in a safe place.
Identity thieves love your full name, birthdate, driver's license, ID and social security numbers, bank credentials, family member details, phone numbers and everything else they can get a hold of about you. So whatever you do online, never reveal more information than necessary to fulfil your purpose online, especially on social media platforms. Which brings me to my third point.
3. Private May Not Be Private
Almost all websites, online apps, social media platforms collect information for advertising and marketing purpose. Even if your settings are set to Private, it may not be absolutely private. Law enforcement and website administrators can have access to the information that you provided, and hackers or cyber trolls may find ways to access this information too. So once again, less is always best. Only provide the minimum information required. Don't list your sensitive information anywhere online that can leave a digital footprint. Sensitive information includes the names and relationship listing of family members, friends, when you are going for a holiday, where you live, etc. Just about anything that may be useful for someone with a criminal mind to piece together a plot.
4. Don't Keep Multiple Accounts
Sometimes we create multiple online accounts for different purposes, and then we forget about them. If you do not use the account anymore, CLOSE them. Keeping them may leave traces of data that cybercriminals may patch together and steal information from other sites that the same individual uses.
5. Pay Attention to the Messages and Mails you are getting and Identical Looking Sites
Learn to recognise phishing and scams so that you do not click on a URL that is supposedly from a trusted organization (banks, airlines, tax office, etc) or a friend. I found two post that gives some real world phishing examples and how to recognize them and how to identify compromised sites.
6. Keep your Social Network Secure
Social media platforms are a haven for cybercriminals. On top of not revealing more than necessary set up information on your social media accounts, ensure you set up a high level of security and privacy settings. Keep a close eye on your accounts and if you hear from someone who has not contacted you for a while, or it looks suspicious; do practice caution. Your friend's account may have been hacked.
7. Security Protection for your Devices and Online Activities
Invest in a trustworthy security software or program that protects your devices and online activities. Such software often warns you of danger or a breach. Also remember to download the latest updates for your apps, devices and security software.
I hope with these tips, we can all be in a safer environment while surfing and social networking as we do our part in staying home. Keep safe, keep well and above all keep sane.
