As stated last week, using the internet is a lot like driving. You have to pay attention. You have to be prepared. You have to buckle up prior to getting on the road. You must use your indicators when choosing to turn or to exit the freeway. All those measures help to keep you safe on the road; similar measures can be taken in order to keep you safe when online.
Of course, neither the measures you take while driving or online can prevent all vulnerabilities. They simply can help to mitigate some of them. They can increase your chances of arriving safely at your destination, whether that destination be someone’s house or someone’s website.
- Use authentication tools. Authentication tools are opt-in features. Google, E*Trade, and other companies allow you to augment your password with your cell phone or other security token.
- Prepare adequately. Most email providers and social networks ask you to provide other identification measures in order to safeguard your security. Most of those measures include alternative email addresses, cell phone numbers, or security questions. Such measures must be enabled prior to your account being compromised; they offer no help to you if your account already has been hacked.
- Set alerts. Some social networks will alert you if your account is accessed from a different browser. Such alerts can help you to monitor who is accessing your account.
- Use multiple accounts. You probably don’t have a single email account. You probably have the one you use regularly, and the one to which you direct spam from retailers and other entities. If one of those accounts is hacked, you at least have the other one. Remember, though, that you need to keep a record of your contacts in both. If you lose one account to a hack and haven’t saved a copy of your contacts, you will have to start from scratch.
- Go offline. Keep offline copies of your data. Download the data to a disk or a disconnected hard drive.
How do you stay safe in the danger zones? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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