Keep others out of your online accounts
Sitting in a coffee shop or walking down the road it is evident that we live in a mobile, connected world. Whether it is a smartphone, a tablet, or a notebook, our lives are evolving to be more digital. But with us relying on the internet for everything from online banking to chatting with friends, how many have given thought to protecting their digital identities from malicious users?
The statistics make for some concerning reading. A survey in the United States has found that 15 million Americans have their identities fraudulently used each year with financial losses estimated to be in excess of $50-billion. While our 3 600 reported cases last year might pale in comparison, it does not lessen the danger or impact of identity theft.
Protecting your digital identity is something that has to be done year-round. However, as the holiday season is upon is, it becomes even more important to remain vigilant. Now is the time where online shopping peaks and the convenience of doing banking from the beach might be too resisting to ignore.
But if your identity gets compromised, then the very real financial risks could put a serious dent in you getting 2016 off to a great start. A compromised digital identity also presents a physical threat. Knowing where you live and being able to track your movements make you and your family easy targets for break-ins, hijackings, or worse.
Granted, these are extreme cases of what could happen when someone steals your digital identity but it pays to be aware of the dangers. More concerning is that it often is not a case of being hacked but rather cybercriminals using information that is in the public domain to clone your identity. Just think about what you are likely to share on a social network like Facebook. It is easy to put in all your personal details and share those holiday snaps tagging your family and friends as you go along. While it might seem counterintuitive to a connected (and social) lifestyle, it is good to set boundaries on what you post online. Avoid revealing where a photo was taken and stop geo-tagging photos that show exact locations. Also be cautious about posting photos or video clips that reveal your address or show the valuables in your home.
If you have children and they are active online, it is definitely worthwhile to have a conversation with them in terms of the information they share and with whom they share it with. Fortunately, there is security software that is designed to protect you and your loved ones on a variety of devices. It is good to do some research on the most well-known brands and evaluate which of their offerings fit your lifestyle. These solutions are also very easy to use with many of them focusing on family protection.
While we have not reached the stage of having to lie awake at night and worry, we all need to examine what information we share and how we share it. Security software is a great method of protection, but user behaviour is key. After all, what does it help you have 10-foot high fences around your home but you hand out the gate key to stranger.
Tips to protect you in the digital world
• Never open attachments or click on links in a suspicious email.
• Ideally, never use unsecure WiFi networks but if you have no choice refrain from conducting online banking or online shopping through them.
• Always keep your operating system, browser, and anti-virus or internet security software updated with the latest patches and definitions.
• Do not email or post your date of birth online.
• Regularly check the privacy settings of your social networking profiles.
• Only use official app stores to download mobile applications and always check whether permission settings make sense, i.e. why would that game need access to your phone settings?
• Set up a private email address for personal correspondence and a public one for social networking and other services.