Since global communities are in and out of lockdown due to the world’s current pandemic crisis, there has been a rise in online activity. The surge in web use is a result of people working from home, online meetings, kids undertaking school work remotely, and of course – virtual entertainment.
The internet is filled with amazing things, but can be unsafe at times. This is not a warning-avoid-the-internet-like-the-plague read, but more of a precaution about what is currently happening and newer additions to the internet that you may need to keep an eye on.
Major Cyber Security Attack in June 2020
As soon as the term “cyber security” is mentioned, a lot of people assume it’s about hackers stealing credit card information, but it also comes down to identity theft and manipulation of confidential information.
Australia experiences cyber security attacks by keyboard criminals every year, and it hasn’t slowed down. Recent events with company Lion Australia is a perfect example of how vulnerable a business can be if not protected with the right technological armour. The company giant was hacked and their confidential data held ransom while cyber attackers demanded payment.
Lion is one of many cyber victims, listed along with Amazon, Travelex, Noni B, Samsung, Chubb and the Australian Government, just to name a few.
Businesses are affected on a regular basis and so are consumers. Panic is growing amongst trending app users as security and privacy concerns are unveiled more recently. Here are a couple that you should keep an eye on.
Online security using social media apps
Houseparty
Houseparty is a video-calling app that has grown in popularity, and is particularly favoured amongst students. Houseparty is a social networking platform, which has game playing features and video filters.
The main concerns that people have with this app are the privacy and access settings. Up until recently, users weren’t aware that you need to set your chats to private, otherwise anyone can access the call.
There have also been rumours that hackers using Houseparty can access a user’s personal information through the camera roll. This is an example of why you should NEVER keep pictures of credit cards or other financial information in your camera roll.
If you are looking for a platform to video call friends, loved ones, fellow students or co-workers, Zoom might be a better option. Zoom is a more reliable, well established and a much more professional platform to use for video conferencing. WhatsApp is another great alternative.
If you’re looking to set up Houseparty for your children to use to communicate with their friends, might we suggest opting for Messenger Kids instead. The Messenger Kids app has recently launched in Australia, and allows children to chat and video call their friends, albeit with complete parental control.
TikTok
TikTok has over 800 million active users registered with many people actively using the app whilst in home isolation. TikTok is a short-form video app used to make, edit, view and share fun content with the world. The app is much like Instagram in the way people use it to follow others and hashtags with similar interests.
Recently there have been global concerns about TikTok being used as a form of spyware, as you might have seen on the news or on social media. India recently announced a ban of the application and there has been talk of the United States following suit. Although there is no hard evidence to prove the use of this app as spyware yet, it is an obvious reason to highlight why you should always read the Terms and Conditions before signing up to anything that requires you to enter your data.
Tips for connecting to work servers from home
Remote working can conjure up technical complications and security breaches, particularly for those who might not be tech savvy. Connecting to online servers to access your databases or work documents may be a necessity, but it is important to know how to set yourself up safety.
You should first seek guidance from your employer. If you have access to a work computer, you should already have the correct platforms installed. However, if you are setting yourself up to work on your personal computer, it is best to seek the advice of your manager or an IT specialist. Yes, you can Google how-to options, but it’s also important to remember that Google can be your best friend or your worst nightmare when you are setting up new systems on your computer.
Make sure your computer has the appropriate security settings in place. Examples include:
- Data encryption – enable data encryption to password protect your data. It is a great security option, but don’t forget your password
- Firewall – a firewall monitors incoming connections to your computer, and is essential if you want to keep hackers at bay. If you have your firewall enabled, you can choose which sites and connections are allowed through advanced settings.
- Privacy settings – this includes location services and which data applications can access your computer. If you don’t need the location services turned on, please leave it off. Companies can access your location to help market geo-specific products and services.
Other Technical Tidbits to Remember
Anti-virus software is an essential
PLEASE for the love of not having to buy a new computer, make sure you have an excellent anti-virus software set-up on your computer and keep it updated, especially on your personal device. If you are using a work laptop, your employer should have set-up an anti-virus program already. If not, please approach your manager ASAP. If you are working on your personal computer, then do some research to find the best anti-virus software suited to your device and online needs.
Back-ups are your besties
Backing up your computer files is essential for the times you have a technical problem, such as your computer crashing. Buy a hard drive, one with as much storage as possible, and use it to make copies of everything on your computer. Store your hard drive in a safe place.
What you post, stays
This should be a goes-without-saying statement, but sadly it isn’t. Many social media platforms and websites will have terms and conditions in place which state that your content, once uploaded, belongs to the Internet forever. Some sites like Instagram do have T&Cs that outline your content is your own, and people need permission to use it – although sadly, that does not mean that others will abide by that.
If you are using your social media platforms to gain visibility for yourself, your brand or your business, then post away – strategically of course. But if you are posting content on your social media accounts for your friends and family to see, you are better off sending your images directly to them. It is easy for anyone to download and use your content if you are set to public, and hack into your account.
Read the Terms and Conditions.
It’s in the subtitle guys. Yes, it’s boring and draining, but if you want to know your rights when it comes to your data, content and information shared online, read the terms and conditions of the apps you download and the sites you sign up to.
Be safe and be responsible. Your digital privacy is important.
Cyber safety in even more vital now with more people connected to the net than ever before. Remember that the internet is a murky world and your privacy is important. Be aware of your digital footprint and make sure you know where your activity is being logged, stored or seen.