what can i do about hackers and predators

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What Can I Do About Hackers and Predators? SafeBytes Software

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Page 1: What can i do about hackers and predators

What Can I Do About Hackers and Predators?

SafeBytes Software

Page 2: What can i do about hackers and predators

In this age of technological advancement, the access to information and software is more easily accessible than ever. A person simply needs to Google a phrase to learn about it, or download software to use it. Gone are the days of having to buy software from a store, take it home, install it, then hang onto the disc forever.

Gone are the days of having to check out heavy books from the library, take them home, read them, and then return them. Also (mostly) gone, are the days where your privacy and confidential information were accessible only to you. These days, being online and not being careful about what sites you access or what files you download can leave you open to getting hacked. Getting hacked can have incredible repercussions on your friendships, your familial relationships, and your finances.

So what can a person do to avoid getting hacked? The easiest ways to avoid getting hacked are to choose a strong password, or generate one, and to use two-factor authentication on all your social media, email, and banking websites.

Page 3: What can i do about hackers and predators

Passwords

You need a password to do anything ‘personalized’ on the internet. Facebook, twitter, your email, your bank, etc. These all need an email address and a password for you to access them, so that other people can’t post things under your name and cause trouble for you. To that end, don’t choose a password that’s easy to guess.

Sites exist that will generate random passwords that are virtually foolproof. They will be a combination of numbers and letters, designed to withstand attacks by hackers. All you have to do is store these passwords somewhere safe, preferably not on your computer. Lots of sites these days will also ‘lock-out’ an account after a set number of failed password attempts, forcing the account owner to ‘unlock’ the account through their email address. So a stronger password will allow you to stay a little safer, due to this feature. You should also make a habit of changing your password every 60 days, as well as not using website Cookies to store your login information.

Page 4: What can i do about hackers and predators

Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication is slowly becoming more prevalent among websites. In short, two-factor authentication allows you to set up a backup login authentication on your phone. So when an unauthorized device, such as someone else’s computer, tries to access your account, you’ll get a text message on your phone, asking if you recognize and authorize that device. If you don’t, that device cannot login to your account. So even if they guess your password, YOU still have to give it permission.

With these two easy to implement safety features, you can rest assured that your surfing will be far less prone to hacking and other unwanted access to your accounts. It’s something that far too many internet users overlook when they go online. But for how long it takes to set up a stronger password and two-factor authentication, it’s worth spending the small amount of time, in the interest of added security when you’re online.