Don’t Get Spooked By Hackers: How to keep your account and your information safe
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It’s spooky season, which means ghosts, goblins, and. . . cyber criminals? The threat of a hack or data breach may not be top of mind during the Halloween season, but October is also Cyber Awareness Month in the US. Below are the top tips and tricks you need to know to protect your social media accounts from hackers and cyber criminals.
?? Turn on two-factor authentication: 2FA creates an extra layer of security beyond just a username and password. There are a number of types of two-factor authentication available, with app-based authentication being one of the most secure.??
?? Set a strong password: Always use a unique password that is a minimum of 12 characters long, avoiding easily guessable information like birthdays and quotes. You can use a password manager to store and generate random passwords.
?? Keep your devices up to date: It’s important to ensure that your operating system, web browser, and apps are all running on the latest version. These updates can often contain critical security patches or new security features that will help keep your accounts protected.
?? Check your privacy settings: Make sure to regularly check your privacy settings to understand who can see your information. Whether it's your posts, your profile, or even access from the third party apps, you can control who has access to what.?
?? Be cautious when accepting friend requests: If you receive a friend or connection request from someone you don’t know, proceed with caution and do your research. Cyber criminals can create bot or cloned accounts in an attempt to gain access to your profile.
?? Enable login notifications: Most social media platforms have a setting that will notify you when there’s been a new log in to your account. This can be helpful for catching suspicious activity right away.
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?? Don’t click on suspicious links or tags: Hackers are savvy and will often use scare tactics to get you to fall for their malicious links. It’s important to remember that social media accounts will notify you of any actions on your account via email through a verified email address (e.g. __@facebook.com).
?? Try to avoid public wifi: Wifi networks in public spaces like airports, cafes, and the like don’t have much, if any, security protections, making them a prime space for hackers to easily access your information. If you need to connect to a public wifi network, try utilizing a VPN service to keep your connection private.
When it comes to cyber security, it’s important to put efforts into prevention as it can be a challenge to get in touch with social media platforms after a hack to get your accounts back up and running.
Hackers and cyber criminals may give anyone a fright, but by utilizing these strategies, you can help keep your social media accounts safe.?
Additional links
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