CAPTAIN'S CORNER : Are you practicing effective "cyber hygiene"?

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Every time you do something as innocent as logging into your Instagram or Facebook account, did you know you are inviting a criminal home?

The worrying news is that billions of login credentials have been leaked and compiled into datasets online using malicious software, giving criminals “unprecedented access” to accounts that consumers use each day. Cybersecurity outlet Cybernews says that a total of 16 billion user passwords for a range of popular platforms including Google, Facebook, and Apple have fallen into the wrong hands.

Of course, this number includes duplicates and users with multiple accounts. But think about it — 16 billion is roughly double the amount of people on Earth!

Against this alarming headline, experts continue to stress the importance of maintaining proper cyber hygiene. Just like we followed anti-virus protocols during the pandemic years — washing hands, wearing face masks, and avoiding crowds — we now need to follow simple steps to shield ourselves from cybercriminals.

The first thing is to change your password at least every month. Avoid using the same or similar login credentials on multiple sites. Do not share your password, even with your best friend. If your excuse is forgetfulness, consider using a passkey or password manager.

As a second protective layer, add multifactor authentication through your phone, email, or a USB authenticator key.

Be cautious about clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown or suspicious sources, as they may be phishing attempts. Keep your software and operating systems up to date to patch security vulnerabilities.

Finally, when checking into the internet from your friendly local coffee shop or busy airport — which is a public Wi-Fi network — use a VPN to encrypt your internet traffic and protect your data from potential eavesdropping. Update your software regularly and back up your files onto an external drive.

In today's world, we cannot avoid online business — shopping, banking, and communication. Call me old-fashioned if you will, but the best protection is to always use common sense.

If a deal being offered sounds too good to be true — it probably is! No business, whether bank or government, will ask for bank details or personal data like CPR number over the phone. If you have not entered a lucky draw, don’t expect to win the bumper prize over the phone!

Captain Mahmood Al Mahmood is the Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Tribune and the President of the Arab-African Unity Organisation for Relief, Human Rights and Counterterrorism.