IT’S a sickening feeling to realise someone has hacked your emails and had unlimited access to your personal details.
The reality is there are many different ways a stranger can attempt to steal your information. From embedding viruses, phone and email phishing to fake online dating profiles, the opportunities for a fraudster are endless.
Before you close down all your online accounts and throw your smart phone in the bin, there are ways to protect yourself.
The best advice from experts is to be vigilant – make sure your accounts are secure, trust your gut feeling that something isn’t right, and request a yearly credit report.
Regularly changing passwords is the best way to protect your accounts, and don’t use the same password for all your accounts.
Install internet protection and firewalls on your devices to pick up suspicious activity and keep programs up-to-date.
Currently, the most common scam arises from a phone call, with someone trying to solicit information by pretending to be from a reputable organisation like a bank.
Scam advice
- If you are unsure how your accounts were compromised, change your passwords on a device you know is secure.
- Apple are good at providing updates to prevent hacking, but if you are worried, they can check your device and wipe anything that shouldn’t be there.
- Ask your bank what measures you can take to make sure your accounts are more secure.
- If you send documents via email, delete any copies from your sent box and from your computer.
- Email providers will have information on their sites on how to secure your account and how to check for access by unauthorised users.
- Often with email accounts and social media accounts you can add two-step verification that will alert you to someone trying to access you account.
