….The Cyber Sushi…(serving up the cold facts, with some phish bytes)

[Condobloke]

Privacy Awareness 101

Privacy Awareness Week: Back to Basics​

The start of May saw the commencement of Privacy Awareness Week with a focus on getting back to basics.

So let's celebrate with our Top 10 Tips!

1. Make your passwords long and strong! A strong password should be at least 12 characters long and include a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. Remember to keep them unique. Using a different password for each online account is vital so that your other accounts remain secure if one password is compromised. Consider using a password management system to keep track!
2. MFA everything. Enable Multi-factor or two-factor authentication on all the accounts that accept it. This adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. Remember to keep one-time passwords or codes private from everyone, no matter who they claim to be.
3. Be cautious when sharing personal information online. This includes being careful when giving out sensitive information such as your full name, address, phone number, driver licence or Medicare card numbers. Be especially careful when using social media, as the information you share there can be easily accessed by others. Be future thinking and consider how the information and photos you post may be used or viewed in the future.
4. Use Wi-Fi networks sparingly. Public Wi-Fi is often unsecured, meaning anyone on the same network could access your online activity. Avoid accessing sensitive information such as online banking or credit card accounts when using public Wi-Fi.
5. Regularly review your privacy settings on social media and other online accounts. Check the privacy settings on your accounts to ensure that you are only sharing information with the people you intend to.
6. Be aware of phishing. Phishing scams are emails, SMS, phone calls or even social media posts that appear to be from a legitimate source but are designed to steal your personal information. Be cautious when opening emails from unknown senders or clicking on links in messages. Look for signs of phishing, such as misspellings or unusual requests for personal information. If in doubt, contact the sender directly using verified contact details.
7. Keep your software and security measures up to date. This includes regularly updating your operating system, web browser, and antivirus software. These updates often contain security patches and bug fixes that can help protect your device from potential threats.
8. Stay vigilant and educate yourself on new threats and security best practices as they emerge. This can help you avoid potential threats and make informed decisions about your online activity.
9. Be mindful of the data that you share with online companies and services. Many websites and apps collect information about your online behaviour and leverage it for advertising and other objectives. Think before clicking "accept all" and consider going with "just recommended".
10. Tread carefully with third-party access. Be cautious when granting access to third-party apps and services, as they may be able to access your personal information.

 

[sphen]

-> This thread is helpful as a reminder for everyone, especially beginners, to pay attention to online privacy.

Constructive criticism 101:

The title does not inform members about the content. Members are forced to open the thread to learn what is it about. When they open it, they find a webpage link, nothing else. The only information they see is the title of the link itself without description or comment from the OP.

If you click the link, you will see the usual helpful "Top 10" list of privacy suggestions for beginners. In my opinion, it is helpful, but really no better than other privacy recommendations lists I have seen.

Next time:

• Give an informative title to the thread that helps members understand what it is about and whether it applies to them.
• Include a brief comment with the link. Explain why it is important or why it is better than every other similar webpage or what it means to you. Say something, anything. Tell us why you made this thread.

Otherwise, it looks like all those "one and gone" spam threads that pop up all too often and are frequently deleted.

This thread reminds me of what I dislike about our local news. They will "tease" you without giving information. Stuff like, "Deadly chemical spill still spreading into local neighborhoods. Hundreds already killed and injured. Find out which neighborhoods on The News at 11:00."