The 28th of January is Data Privacy Day. The privacy awareness issues it raises have never been so important.  The devices we use today generate a steady stream of data and hackers would love to get their hands on this information. Throughout this week we’ll be posting blogs related to your privacy and how to protect it.

Hackers love accessing email accounts. They can find all sorts of information to exploit such as bank account numbers, invoices, online receipts, online shopping information. This is treasure trove of data that can easily lead to someone being defrauded.
With this in mind consider the following steps to protect your email accounts:
  • Use different accounts

If you have different email accounts for different purposes the risk is spread.For instance, you can have an account dedicated to online shopping and one for personal use. If an account is hacked it’s easy to identify which one it is; shut it down and repair any damage before it gets out of hand.
  • Enable two-factor authentication

Most email providers today offer two-factor authentication. It’s easy to set up and typically involves entering a password into your account and then verifying your identity by entering a PIN number sent to your phone. Even if your email password is stolen a hacker won’t be able to access your account without the PIN.
  • Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is often insecure and easy for hackers to access. As such avoid accessing your email account over public Wi-Fi networks.

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  • Watch out for suspicious emails

If you receive an email from a sender you don’t recognise, don’t click on any links or download any attachments. Also be suspicious of emails from seemingly legitimate organisations you weren’t expecting. Hackers often try to trick people into revealing passwords or downloading malware that steal personal information.
  • Use secure passwords

The more complex and unique your password is the harder it is to crack. Ideally your account passwords should be a minimum of ten characters and composed of a random mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, symbols and spaces. Don’t use easy to hack passwords like ‘qwerty’, ‘1234567’ or the name of a pet, children and so on.