A Guide to Personal Cybersecurity

3. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) or Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds another layer of protection to your data by requiring additional verification of a user's identity. Normally you would only need to enter username and password to log into your account. With two-factor you will be asked to enter an additional authentication method such as Personal Identification Code, one more password, or in some cases a fingerprint.

The only difference between 2FA and MFA is that with MFA you are asked to enter more than two additional authentication methods after entering your username and password.

Hackers can easily hack your password, but obtaining your phone or you MFA token at the same time is more challenging. This is why implementing authentication in your accounts is very important.

For this purpose, you can use the Google Authenticator app. Google Authenticator is a free security app that can protect your accounts against password theft.

Here is how you can set it up:

1. You need to download Google Authenticator from either the Apple App Store or the Android Google Play store. 
2. After downloading the app, you need to set up two-step verification on your Google account. In your Google account. Under "Security and Sign-In" select "Two-Step Verification",  scroll down to select the "Authenticator app" option.
3. Select your phone, Android or iPhone.
4. Open the Google Authenticator and tap the plus button. Two options will show up, "Scan barcode" and "Manual entry." You only need to choose one of these options to complete the process. Using "Manual Entry" means that Google will send you a 16-digit code to an e-mail address. You then enter the code to complete the verification process.
5. Make sure that the "Time Based" option is ON. 

Every time that you log in to the account that you connected with the authenticator app, the account will ask for the verification code. For that, you just need to open the authenticator app and generate the new code. In this way, your account is not only protected with two-factor authentication, but with the added security of Google's six-digit authenticator code.

 

 

4. Avoid Phishing scams

Phishing is one of the most common online scams. But what is phishing exactly? Phishing is a social engineering attack used to steal user data. Hackers use emails or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information. Phishing emails may look like they are from a company you know (a bank, a credit card company, an online payment website, etc.). 

According to Round Robintech, over 75% of targeted cyberattacks start with an email.

What can you do to stay safe?

1. When you get an email check to see if it's real. 
2. Never click on the links provided. You can check the url and see if the domain provided is the same as the company you see online. 
3. If someone wants you to log in via a link, go to their website on your own first and log in from there. 
4. If you are not sure, call the company or organisation using an official number on their website and ask about the e-mail you received.
5. Use Multi Factor Authentication.
6.  Back up your data and make sure those backups aren’t connected to your home network. 
 

 

 

5. Use Your Mobile Devices Safely

Your mobile device could be a target to more than 1.5 million new incidents of mobile malware.

Here are some quick tips to secure your phone:

1. Choose a difficult passcode, and don't use your birthday!
2. Install Apps only from trusted sources (like the official Apple or Google App Store). Don't install applications from other third-party-sources via your phone.
3. Update your device. As we said before, hackers use vulnerabilities in older operating systems so make sure you're running the latest operating system.
4. Activate Find my iPhone or the Android Device Manager to prevent loss or theft. In case you lose your phone you can also delete or block it from these two platforms. 

 

 

6. Don’t Use Public Wi-Fi

Be careful and don't public Wi-Fi without using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). If you use a VPN, the traffic between your device and the server is encrypted. This makes it more difficult for a hacker to obtain access to your data on your devices.

Another tip would be not to share anything private while you are connected to a public Wi-Fi. Do not check your emails or any other private services, and disconnect from the public Wi-Fi immediately when you find the information you needed.

The best way to avoid public Wi-Fi safety threats is to not use it at all. Alternatively, we recommend using a cellular data connection. 

 

 

7. Don’t Save Payment Information

One thing that you need to understand is that security breaches happen all the time, even with different measures in place. That's why you should never save your payment information in websites or apps. After all, if a security breach happens, there’s nothing to steal if your credit card isn’t saved on the website.

Storing your payment information online will put you at increased risk of your card information being stolen and criminals using it for fraudulent purchases. Manually entering your payment information when you want to buy something online reduces the chances of your account details being compromised.