Like everyone else in today's world, you likely have a phone or computer tapped into some type of internet service. If you do, it's likely that a hacker is attempting to access your information right as you read this. For every Gmail, iTunes, Snapchat, Dropbox, Facebook or Twitter account that you own, the likelihood increases. With just a phone number and social information, a hacker can obtain all of the information needed to convince an unsuspecting customer service rep that they are you. Within a matter of seconds, this information can help them to steal your money, your identity, and even blackmail you.
With so much at risk, it's important for individuals to arm themselves with the right information needed to keep themselves hack-proof in 2017. All it takes is the right security measures, infrastructure and critical thinking:
Don't Give Out Information On The Phone Or By Clicking a Link
It is personal security safety lesson number 1, and yet so many fall afoul to the latest information collection strategies. To keep yourself safe from hacks, especially in 2017, you'll have to start to build a better habit around who you give your information to and how. Get the ball rolling by avoiding processes that "speed up" account signs up by using your Facebook login. While creating a new account from scratch can take quite a bit of time, you should know that they also make it more difficult for hackers to steal your information.
What's more, don't just sign up for new accounts because you can. Consider how much trust you have in a site before you give them any information. Before giving your information away research the site to see if they are capable of keeping your data safe. If things seem off then avoid giving away information or using logins like Facebook or Google. You'll be surprised by how quick a hacker can access passwords, credit cards number and contact information just through a connected login.
Don't Be A Social Media Overshare
Social media can be a great thing. With it, users stay up to date on the opinions, milestones and even physical locations of their friends and families. Hackers can too. Apps like FourSquare and Snapchat use geolocation tools to help followers track and meet up with friends, but also put users at risk. It might be fun to share this information with friends, but consider the people you don't know. For social media users, this information is best left to "private". Even then, users have to start assuming that these "privately set" bits of information are public knowledge.
A cautious filter when it comes to the information you share on your social channels will do you a world of good. Consider how much information you know about some of your most distant Facebook acquaintances. We've all seen the arguments detailing private information, the picture of new cars with license plates and even the posts about travel arrangements. For today's hacker, this all of the information needed to convince someone else that they are you.
Get on Social Media
It makes sense that a person who wants to ensure their security would think heading off social media would be their best bet. Still, for those who aren't yet logged on, it's important to know that there are traces of you on someone's account, somewhere. Whether it's your friend who just Snapchatted a picture of you at work, or your mom bragging about your latest promotion, the information is there. What's more, it's putting you at risk. The best way for you to regulate your information is to get online and stay up to date on what's being posted about you. By keeping yourself up to date on what's being shared and said about you, you'll have an idea what hackers might already know.
Stop Trying To Shortchange The Password Process
The struggle of meeting password standards is a long one. From letter count to symbol requirements, today's password demands are making setting up accounts all the more tricky. Still, it's important to value their worth. Last year's LinkedIn hack is proof that people have to start taking security measure seriously-- passwords especially. In the hack, a startling 167 million accounts were compromised, 117 million passwords included. The worst part? The majority of accounts could have been secure if it hadn't been for bad passwords. In fact, over 750,000 of the accounts used "123456" as the password. The lesson here is that users have to start taking their passwords more seriously. For users this means, updating passwords regularly, and avoiding using personal information because your old elementary school mascot doesn't cut it anymore.