Hack Proof Your Online Accounts
We’re all aware that using strong, unique passwords is critical for protecting our online accounts from hackers. However, even the best password isn’t always enough. Publicizing your personal information can have serious consequences if you are not a celebrity or a high-profile target. As a responsible digital citizen, you must understand how your accounts are being hacked in order to avoid these common pitfalls. After reading this piece, you should have everything you need to protect your online accounts from being hacked.
#1 – Use Unique, Strong Passwords for All Your Accounts
Having strong, unique passwords that are difficult to guess is the first line of defense against hackers. Here are some suggestions for creating strong, one-of-a-kind passwords that are easy to remember but difficult for hackers to crack:
Passwords should contain a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Using numbers and symbols in addition to letters makes your passwords more difficult to breach, but be careful not to create a password that is too difficult to remember. An attacker can easily guess a password like “qwerty.”
Make your passwords longer than 10 characters, avoid using your name or birthday, and avoid using dictionary words. Instead, try making an illogical combination of letters and symbols that no one will ever guess, such as “c%+n5a5p3r.”
#2 – Don’t Reuse Passwords
Some people believe that reusing strong passwords across multiple accounts is a good idea, but this is a terrible strategy. If someone steals the data from any account, they can use it to access other accounts with the same password. As a general rule, you should use a different password for each profile that you manage. That may seem like a lot of work, but reusing passwords puts all of your accounts at risk of being compromised simultaneously. If you’re concerned about remembering multiple passwords, you can use password management apps like LastPass and 1Password to help you keep track of all your passwords.
#3 – Install Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a login method that requires two pieces of identifying information, such as a password and a frequently changing code. This is a great extra layer of security that can help you protect your account if ever your password gets compromised.
Using an authenticator app like Google Authenticator (“Authy”), or receiving a code via SMS (One-Time-Password or OTP), are two of the most popular 2FA methods.
Even if you only manage one online account, make sure to use 2FA on all of your accounts that support it. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Nonetheless, don’t rely solely on Google Authenticator because it can likewise be hacked. Someone who has access to your phone number and can reroute your text messages can obtain the code from Google Authenticator and log into your account. If your primary authentication method is compromised, use a secondary authentication method.
#4 – Take Care of Your Account Recovery Information
If someone hacks into your account and changes your account recovery information, you should fix it as soon as possible. Hackers frequently change your account recovery information and then lock you out. Make sure your account recovery information is accurate and as difficult to guess as possible. Avoid using obvious information such as your birthday or pet’s name.
If a hacker gains access to your account and changes your recovery information, it may be difficult to recover the account. You can try using an email address that is not associated with your primary account and then use that email address to request the account management team, via Email or call, to reset your primary account’s information.
Bottom line
Hackers are constantly looking for new ways to gain access to your accounts, so it’s critical to stay vigilant and monitor your account security. Hopefully, the suggestions above can help you secure your online accounts!