My friend called me and said that her Facebook account was hacked. The hacker changed her log-in email and password. She was depressed for few days and wasn’t able to have a good sleep because she can’t access her Facebook account which she also used for her networking business. We tried to fix it but there are a lot of problems. We cannot access her email account because she already forgot it’s password. We tried to recover the email account but the mobile number that was link to it was snatched. The odds are against us. Until now, we aren’t able to recover it.

We know that hackers are one of the most innovative person living in this digital era. They can deface websites, steal banks accounts and social media passwords. Social media is now part of our daily life. According to statistica, there are 65 million Filipino Facebook users. Since social media is integral part of our daily life, it is important to secure it so that we can avoid being hacked like what happened to my friend. I can give you 9 hacks to secure yourself online.

1. You shall not used same passwords in all your online accounts.

I put it in #1 because I am guilty of this too. I often used same passwords for those not-so-important account like yahoo mail, extra Gmail, GitHub and Shoppe. I put the same passwords for these applications because I didn’t used it frequently and I easily forget it. However, for important accounts that involves your pictures and private messages you should create a different passwords for each of them. Why? Because when your Instagram was hacked, they cannot access your Facebook since it has a different password. Avoid repeating your passwords, you don’t know what can happen.

2. You shall not let strangers used your smartphone.

My friend, which I mention on the introduction, told me that one of the OJT in their company frequently borrowing her cellphone. Guess what? They were friends for two weeks. Our suspect was this OJT girl is her stalker. We might be wrong of course but it is possible. This can happen to you too. Letting a stranger borrow your phone is risky and might ruin your life in the future. How can they steal your passwords? People can install keylogger to your phone. Keylogger are application that can log all the strokes in your keyboard. They can steal everything about you using this malicious software (malware). So to avoid this, better don’t trust that stranger.

3. You shall used two-factor authentication.

Facebook and other mobile application have a feature of two-factor authentication. This feature will allow you to have a two level log-in. First, your password and email. Second, Facebook will send to you code and you need to enter the code before you can log-in. You can disabled this feature and exempt your laptop and cellphone so that every time you log-in you don’t need to enter the code again. However, when you are trying to log-in in an unknown browser and computer, it will require you to enter the verification code. When you received a verification code without expecting it, someone was trying to hacked your account.

4. You shall memorize or compile all your passwords.

You have to do this for future used. If you memorized it, you don’t have to go back to your passwords list just to remember the password again. You can log-in anywhere, anytime. However, if your bad at memorizing like me, you have to have a list of passwords so that you can go back on it when you forget it. Both are useful.

5. You shall not log-in to computer shop without Deep Freeze.

I want you to take note of Deep Freeze. Deep Freeze is a software wherein, when you restart the computer every activity you did and every file you save will be deleted. As in, as if you didn’t use the computer. Every computer shop should have this software installed to their computer. Ask the owner before you log-in to computer shop. After you used the computer don’t forget to restart it, unless it is restart, Deep Freeze will not delete your activities.

6. You shall not used public WiFi.

I know some of you love using FREE WIFI. Me too. When doing bank transaction it’s not safe to used public WiFi. Hackers can wire tap the traffic of public WiFi and can log your traffic data. Using your traffic data they can know your passwords. Trust me, they can do that, but if you really need to used a public WiFi there is a way to secure yourself by using VPN. Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a tool that you can used to hide from hackers. There are many free VPN in google play store, you might need to use it for your online safety.

7. You shall install antivirus and update software.

Antivirus software such as Avira, Norton Security and BitDefender are very important to secure your smartphone and computer. When malware was detected by this antivirus, it will automatically quarantine the malware. The hacker will have a hard time to access your hardware. Also, always update the software of your computer and smartphone. Oftentimes, Microsoft and Android send an update to its user and you should obey them. They consistently improve their security and services to make sure their customers are safe online.

8. You shall not share your password to your boyfriend/girlfriend.

I know your jealous partner might disagree with this. Let me explain it. If you’re partner is not doing the best practices I mention above, he/she might get hacked. If the hackers access her/his computer, that hacker can gather all the log-in credentials to that computer. If she uses that computer to log-in your account both of you are at risk so better do not share it to her/him. Tell her/him that trust is crucial for a lasting relationship.

9. You shall do good to others.

This last commandment might disappoint you. Let me defend my point. Most hackers are not bad, some of them are just internet hacktivist. They fight for something too. Maybe they are fighting for information freedom and government transparency. If they see your a good man they might avoid to take advantage with you but, if your a asshole they might play with you and teach you some lessons in life that you are not always invincible. Anyway, this might or might not happen but who knows? I always believed that there is good in each one of us.

Summary

There is no secure application and systems. Everything has a loophole for sophisticated hackers. However, most hackers are just novice and just want to play with people. Novice hacker are some high school and college students who are just bored in their life. Doing the 9 Hacks I mentioned above might defend yourself from them. Stay secure, stay happy.