According to some of the research, a hacking attack occurs every 39 seconds. There has been a dramatic rise in kids data being attacked. The US government warns hackers are targeting K-12 schools.
Tip #1: Not everyone on social media is your friend.
Social media can reveal a lot of information about you that can be used by criminals. Posting pictures of yourself during a vacation or announcing when you are leaving, can leave you and your belongings vulnerable. Such information can be used to break in your home while you are away.
Tip: Use your personal profile to keep your real friends (the ones you know and trust) up to date with your daily life.
Tip #2: Protect your identity.
There has been several identity theft attacks that have targeted kids data. Hackers can do a variety of fraudulent things with this information. For example, financial identity theft enables hackers to open credit cards or take out loans. Sharing information such as an ID number, address and date of birth can leave you vulnerable.
Tip: Remember not to share too much information about yourself. Consider having a credit freeze activated to block new accounts from being open in your name until you are ready to use it.
Tip #3: Always create a strong password.
Did you know that short and simple passwords can be cracked in a matter of seconds. Using brute force tools hackers attempt to guess a password by using possible combination of letters, numbers and symbols. A strong password is one that’s easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess.
Tip: A secure password should have at least 12 characters. We recommend using a passphrase. They are easier to remember but more difficult to guess. You can create a passphrase by taking a short phrase:
- Change the capitalization of some of the letters.
- Replace some of the letters with numerical and symbolic substitutions.
- Misspell or abbreviate some words.
(E.g., the phrase “ice cream is great for summer” becomes “!ceCisgrt4$umm3R”.)
Tip #4: Avoid public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi maybe convenient but often not secure. When connected to a public WI- Fi the information you send through websites and mobile apps may be viewed by some else.
Tip: If you need to use public wi-Fi, don’t access your personal information or financial information. It is recommended not to stay permanently signed into accounts. Log out once you are finished using the account.