How to Prevent Your Social Accounts from Being Hacked

Hackers are a problem as old as the Internet itself. From identity theft to espionage, hackers have a knack for getting past security, and taking what they want. While computer programmers, and software designers do their best to provide you with the most up-to-date security tools for your devices, more often than not, the user’s inadequate safety measures are the root of compromised email and social media accounts. To reduce the risk of this happening to you, consider these tips:

Make Your Passwords Complex (and Write Them Down)

While it may seem hilarious to think that some people make their email password “password,” many people do, and it’s an incredibly easy way for hackers to get into your personal or professional life. Your password is your first line of defense between your sensitive data, and those who want access for malicious intent. As such, make your password difficult for hacking software to guess — codes that include numbers instead of words (“passw0rd”), symbols (“p@ssword”), capital letters (“pAsSworD”), or a combination of the three (“*p@$$w0RD!*”) are much less likely to be compromised.

Of course, remembering a password with dollar signs, and exclamation points is difficult. To make sure you don’t forget your password, and get locked out of your own account, remember to write down your password carefully with a pen and paper, and place it somewhere you won’t lose it (same goes for the security questions!). If your computer or smartphone lets you save your password, do so.

Read More: Advanced Protection: How to Increase Your Privacy on Android

Verify All of Your Accounts

Verifying your accounts is an important way to establish your online identity, which is crucial in the event that someone breaks into your online properties. Whenever you sign up for a new social account, be it for email or a social media network, be sure to verify it through a secondary account. This can be done through a secondary email, or social media account. For instance, if you’re making an Instagram account for the first time, you’ll be given the option to login through Facebook, which verifies the account automatically. This offers a safety net if one of your accounts is ever compromised.

Be Careful Which Sites and Apps You Trust with Your Information 

This advice applies to all sites, and web services that possess your personal information, from social networks like Facebook, to payment services like Venmo. Although these services make life a whole lot easier, some services are less trustworthy than others, selling user data to advertisers, and providing sub-par web security. To this end, err on the side of caution when using new or unfamiliar services, and do your research before you decide to upload anything you wouldn’t want in a cybercriminal’s possession.

Finally, to give your accounts the extra protection they need, consider downloading PSafe TOTAL. With this app’s antivirus software, you can ensure your Android phone, and all the data within it, stays safe and secure.