In today's hyper-connected world, and especially now during the global pandemic, it's important to think about a new, improved digital you. Cyber scams related to COVID-19 are online, but by taking some smart, simple steps, you can greatly impact the safety and security of your online identity, according to the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA).
NCSA's Top Recommendations for a New Digital You
Reinvent yourself with a different online identity. If a site asks for sensitive, personal information -- like your email and/or mailing address, Social Security Number, birth date, phone number, etc. -- consider "reinventing" your digital persona by sharing alternative answers to those queries that ONLY you would know. An "alter-internet" persona will help limit tracking by search engines, websites and apps.
Think of yourself as an actor slipping into a role to help thwart the continuous onslaught of online intrusions. This can also help safeguard you from identity theft.
Lock down your login. Create long and unique passphrases for all accounts and use multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible.
A strong passphrase is a sentence that is at least 12 characters long. Focus on positive sentences or phrases that are easy to remember (for example, "I love country music."). On many sites, you can even use spaces.
MFA will fortify your accounts by enabling the strongest authentication tools available, such as biometrics or a unique one-time code sent to your phone or mobile device. This additional layer of security makes it harder for bad guys to log in as if they were you.
Share with care. Be aware that when you post a picture or message, you may also be inadvertently sharing personal details and sensitive data with strangers about yourself, family and friends.
It is also OK to limit who can see your information and what you share. Learn about and use privacy and security settings on your favorite websites. NCSA has an excellent resource that includes direct links to update your privacy settings on popular devices and online services.
To learn more about how to stay safe online, visit the NCSA website, www.staysafeonline.org.
