Avira's Top 3 Tips to Keep Your Twitter Account Safe
With More than 89 million subscribers, Katy Perry has the most popular account on Twitter. And… it recently got hacked. Now, you might be tempted to think something like “Katy Perry is a huge celebrity, of course she got hacked. Something like that will never happen to a nobody like me.”
Perhaps so. Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry. So here are the 3 tips that security company Avira shared, tips that will help you keep your Twitter account safe.
1. Pick a strong password
You might think it’s common sense and everybody knows they should pick a strong password for their online accounts. You’d be wrong.
The reality of the situation is that most people don’t follow some basic password etiquette rules. Such as:
2. Use two-factor authentication
Say you don’t pick a strong password and a hacker manages to steal it. Thanks to two-factor authentication, it won’t do the hacker any good. Even with your password, he won’t be able to break into your account, because two-factor authentication ads and extra layer of protection. After you enter your username and password, a code will be sent to you. By using that code, you’ll confirm that you’re the one trying to access your account, and not some hacker.
Twitter uses a form of two-factor authentication called login verification which you can enable from the Security and privacy section on the Settings page (but only after you provide your phone number).
3. Don’t fall for phishing attacks
If you get an email that claims to be from Twitter, email that asks you to divulge your username and password, it is phishing attack. Twitter will never ask you for your password and neither will any other online service.
If you get an email that says you won something, claiming that it needs your account info to send you the prize, it is a phishing attack. Anything that sounds too good to be true, usually is too good to be true.
As luck would have it, I recently published an infographic that presents useful info about phishing attacks, detailing the 6 most common ones. Check it out to learn how to recognize and avoid phishing attacks.
Perhaps so. Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry. So here are the 3 tips that security company Avira shared, tips that will help you keep your Twitter account safe.
1. Pick a strong password
You might think it’s common sense and everybody knows they should pick a strong password for their online accounts. You’d be wrong.
The reality of the situation is that most people don’t follow some basic password etiquette rules. Such as:
- Do not recycle or reuse passwords. Use different passwords for your accounts, don’t use the same password over and over again.
- Pick a password that contains at least eight characters. It must include lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Do not use dictionary words as passwords.
- Don’t use character strings as a password, like 12345, abcde, qweertyui, and so on.
- Don’t pick something that’s easily guessable, like your dog’s name
2. Use two-factor authentication
Say you don’t pick a strong password and a hacker manages to steal it. Thanks to two-factor authentication, it won’t do the hacker any good. Even with your password, he won’t be able to break into your account, because two-factor authentication ads and extra layer of protection. After you enter your username and password, a code will be sent to you. By using that code, you’ll confirm that you’re the one trying to access your account, and not some hacker.
Twitter uses a form of two-factor authentication called login verification which you can enable from the Security and privacy section on the Settings page (but only after you provide your phone number).
3. Don’t fall for phishing attacks
If you get an email that claims to be from Twitter, email that asks you to divulge your username and password, it is phishing attack. Twitter will never ask you for your password and neither will any other online service.
If you get an email that says you won something, claiming that it needs your account info to send you the prize, it is a phishing attack. Anything that sounds too good to be true, usually is too good to be true.
As luck would have it, I recently published an infographic that presents useful info about phishing attacks, detailing the 6 most common ones. Check it out to learn how to recognize and avoid phishing attacks.
