Accessing the internet comes with security risks no matter the device. That’s why it’s vital to take precautions and educate yourself on the latest threats. As they say, “better safe than sorry”.  

Protect your personal information 

• Social engineering is a threat. Be mindful of what you share online. Be particularly careful not to reveal your personal information or whereabouts in real time – no one wants to return from a holiday to find their home has been burgled.  

 

• Always use strong passwords. This applies to everything from banking to social media to ecommerce sites to email. Go with the recommended guideline of using a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters, and make your passwords long. Or use a reputable password-generating service like LastPass or 1Password. 

 

• Use two-factor authentication (2FA). It adds another layer of security to prevent unauthorised access. A second layer makes it difficult for criminals to gain access as real-time PIN codes have a 30-60 second validity, or a few minutes with emailed codes. The Authy app is a great option as it has multi-device access. 

 

• Use password-saving services. Both Android and iOS have password-saving services, which makes multiple-device access easier. This feature is offered at an operating system level and helps when you change devices. 

 

Emails, DMs, and online shopping 

South Africa has some of the highest cybercrime rates in the world, due to people falling for phishing scams.  

 

• Never click on a link from an unknown sender. Also be wary of the DMs you receive from “friends” or “family” as social media hacking has grown due to the lack of 2FA. Confirm via WhatsApp if you’re unsure whether the message is legitimate. 

 

• Financial institutions will never ask you to verify personal information over email. Also be on the lookout for deals that are too good to be true – particularly around peak shopping periods like Black Friday, Mother’s and Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Christmas Day, etc. 

 

• Never click on a link sent to you. To visit a website, rather type the URL yourself using the https prefix – particularly for sites like SARS, courier companies, e-commerce, etc.  

 

• Check for a padlock icon on the browser when shopping online. This confirms that your credit/debit card info will be safely encrypted during the transaction. Use virtual cards as they can be easily cancelled. 

 

Device and network security 

• Update your devices regularly. This is a crucial way to stay ahead of exploited loopholes. Also keep an eye on security patches and updates for your apps, browsers, and operating systems. 

 

• Maintain regular backups. That way you’ll avoid losing data should you become a victim of a cyber-attack. If you’re on home fibre, it’s easier to automate this around midnight.  

 

• Use an antivirus software, like Kaspersky. It will protect you and scan/remove malware if you clicked on a suspicious link. 

 

• Be wary of free public Wi-Fi. Always use a VPN to encrypt your data and avoid doing your banking on public networks. 

 

Check out our fraud listicle for more tips and advice on beating cybercriminals and avoiding being scammed online.