Five tech commandments to a safer digital life

Summary

Security is ‘only as good as the weakest link’, a rule that applies to cyber-security. This article identifies five critical rules to follow regarding digital security:

1. Use strong passwords, at least eight characters, different ones for different sites. A password manager automatically generates long, complex passwords for accounts with one master password.

2. Use multi-factor (two-step) authentication (as used by banks) where a phone code is used and a login and password—you can generally add this feature to most online accounts.

3. Don’t overshare. Smartphone cameras can automatically capture our location, but this feature could compromise security. Ensure the photo location feature is off by default.

4. Don’t share data about friends. Sharing your address book may compromise others. If you are interested to see if your friends are using a service, ask them. 

5. Stay sceptical

Worth thinking about the consequences of not following these rules.

References

• 2021 Forbes Collection of articles on cyber-security
• Mar 2021 ACI Learning  6 Cybersecurity Best Practices Everyone Should Know
• Mar 2021 superscript 10 tips to brush up your personal cyber security
• Mar 2021 FinReview MPs warned about careless tech use as hackers hit Parliament