Cyber Security – Personal checklist to be followed

by Prasham Sabadra · Published May 12, 2023 · Updated December 4, 2024

cybersecurity

Hi All,

Greetings for the day!!!

Continue exploring Cyber Security.

Few statistics sharing here

Microsoft recently announced that – company observers 1,287 password attacks PER SECOND. The most ever
In one news I read, 5 billions SMS phishing attempts are made annually – this is resulted in an estimated loss of around 15,000 crore !
One of news on 4^th May – Every 7 minutes a cybercrime is reported in Australia. In 2021 – 2022 financial year alone, 76000 cybercrimes were reported in Australia. 13% increase in a year in 2023
Nowadays use / sharing of digital information is very heavily used
Calling scams – One example is – frequently getting calls to complete KYCs – so data can be stolen

The above list is never ending, there were n no of incidents happening, it is very important to be a SECURE, SAFE

So today discussing few important points which we must follow in our day to day life to be SAFE, SECURE.

Taking care while using Social apps – FaceBook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and so on

Are two factor authentication enabled for FaceBook.
- We have detailed article on – how to enable two-factor authentication for Facebook – Facebook – How to enable two-factor authentication
Is your Facebook profile locked?
Two factor pin / password set for WhatsApp if we are using
Make sure every time we are done with our work, we logged out from the respective applications

Mobile apps

Are our passwords strong enough for important apps like Gpay, making sure we are following strong password guidelines
Our password is long enough so that for hackers permutation / combination wont work
Making sure its not so easy like based on our names / surname / birthdate – those passwords are commonly identified
Make sure different apps have different passwords
Are permissions are set differently for different app in our mobile
Making sure unnecessary apps are not installed in our regular mobile from where we are performing important operations Are your mobile password protected / pin protected / fingerprint / biometrics / face recognition

Common guidelines

Making sure, to make easy we don’t have same pattern of password
Are we changing all our passwords in month or two
Making sure we are not saving the passwords, when browser notifies us
Making sure, to remember passwords we are not writing those at common places
Making sure, kids/family members don’t know our passwords
Are we making sure we are not sharing OTP (One-Time password with anybody including family members) with anybody
Are you deleting OTP messages immediately as you received and used
For bank messages try to use normal phone (not smart phone) – so that there won’t be apps and those can not be read your messages in phone
Make sure you are keeping Internet off when you are not using
Not giving our any document details on phone to anybody. One example is call to complete / update KYCs. Make sure you go to respective institute (bank / LIC office) and complete / update there in person
Keep ourselves up-to-date with latest cybersecurity trends
Making sure our devices OS, applications are updated on timely basis, latest security patches are in place
Keep your software and systems uptodate
Download software’s only from trusted web sites
Keep the security settings of computer and browser at least either medium or high
Clear browser history / cookies on timely basis

Be SAFE !!! Be SECURE !!!