Don't get hacked! simple guide to protect your devices.

Recently, one of my friend got hacked, and he is quite educated and considered as tech savvy. There’s also a NFT influencer got hacked not too long ago. You would think this would never happen to a tech influencer!

There aren’t enough resources on teaching simple ways to protect your online identity. And as more people move their lives online and with the latest generation growing up living almost fully online. Everyone should learn about protecting their safety online.

Steps #

Easy steps that everyone can do to not get hacked.

Don’t just use one account #

Use separate Gmail accounts, at least one for work, one for personal life.

I know there are many people who use one Gmail account for everything online. Be it personal or work/school related, it’s just so convenient to do so. Heck, I was even doing this before I learned how to protect myself online.

If your Gmail account is compromised, even with two-factor authentication, you still at risk of other accounts getting hacked.

Don’t use the same/similar passwords #

Use an offline password manager to manage different passwords for different accounts.

This becomes worse if you are using the same accounts as well. If your Gmail account and bank account uses the same email and passwords, a hacker getting access to one means he can access the other. Use a password manager instead of using the default browser password manager.

If you are using variant of your passwords, it is objectively better

Don’t “remember your password” #

Don’t use the remember password features especially when it’s saved online.

For example, Google Chrome allows users to save accounts and passwords and sync all the credentials on the cloud. This way, no matter what devices you are on, you can easily access your credentials.

Pretty neat, huh? But this also makes you more vulnerable to attack. The attacker could access all the passwords you saved online if you system is compromised.

Don’t use simple passwords #

Use a randomly generated passwords that is at least 8 characters long with capital letters, numbers and symbols.

Type your password on https://howsecureismypassword.net/

Is it easy to crack? Change it to a random passwords. The easiest way to do so is to use password manager that have this function.

How do you remember your passwords if it’s not iloveyou? You don’t! And that’s the beauty of it, just let the password manager do it’s thingy. With a password manager, you could generate a random password that is virtually impossible to crack.

Don’t click on random links #

Only click on legitimate links, research unfamiliar links on Google

Hackers will make their links look like a real one. We should always check the links before clicking, make sure its an legitimate source.

As seen in the image, the URL is https://giveawaysei-nitro.com and a real Discord giveaway link would be https://discord.gift

You don’t have to do extensive research on a link before clicking onto it, just be careful of the random links people sent you or you found. Google it to make sure the website is real and not shady.

Avoid proprietory softwares #

Whenever you can, always use free and open-source software (FOSS). Don’t use softwares where the code can’t be audited by others.

Not only does FOSS give the users more privacy and security, these softwares are generally better than the proprietary counterparts. Hate the Adobe PDF viewer? Me too! Search “FOSS PDF viewer and editor” and install one that you like.

Because these softwares are open-source, everyone can audit the code to fix security issues. Also, for the better or worse, not a lot of people know FOSS exists and less people use those software, That means A hacker wouldn’t waste their time in hacking an obscure software that little people uses.

Avoid online services #

Whenever you can, don’t use any tech.

Use cash. Reduce internet usage. E wallets If you don’t use an e-wallet regularly or at all, no hacker can hack you! Just keep enough cash in your pocket for daily life.

Don’t use QR code to order something on a menu when you can do it offline! No one can hack your phone because you wrote your order on a menu. Would it make it you look weird because you are the only one refusing to scan QR code? Yes. But you have the right to do so.

Convenience (or a lack thereof) #

If you haven’t notice, to be more secured could means less convenient. But only if you are using the wrong softwares. By using a local password manager, you could achieve 4 of the 7 steps above and still have conveniency. Next post, I will go over my favorite free and open-source password manager, KeepassX.

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Background image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay