One of my friends who is educated and cautious, as a matter of fact, a member of the security industry, has had her email hacked and important data stolen. It sends a chill down the spine of people who know her well.
When one's email password has been hacked, it becomes viral. All the contacts will become potential victims if they are not careful.
There are a few simple precautionary habits one could adopt to avoid losses are very simple.
Use a strong password that is difficult to break such as alphanumeric and symbols/signs included.
Do not click on strange web links especially within an email unless you fully trust the sender and have explored that site before. Never give away your password.
Never disclose your password on the computer. Old fashioned, hand written and locked away are the safer bet.
Do not store important bank data or disclose to anyone online. Your bank will never ask for your password verification in an email link. This is most likely a trap, so don't fall for it.
Make sure you are on the genuine website and not a copy / imitation. Look for 'https' and the little lock as indications of secure websites. Hackers have become sophisticated and are able to produce a window very similar to your email service provider. It is always safer to type in the website address to ensure you are visiting the safe site and not fake ones. Scrutinise carefully. When in doubt, contact the real Mckoy.
Be extra cautious when using a public computer. Clear all cookies before leaving to ensure that your information is not cache or stored to be viewed or exploited by the next user.
The internet is a wonderful invention but like all good things, there are flaws that crooks could utilise to trick innocent people.
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