{"id":21807,"date":"2022-04-28T09:39:52","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T01:39:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/?p=21807"},"modified":"2023-02-10T11:26:40","modified_gmt":"2023-02-10T03:26:40","slug":"how-to-protect-your-privacy-online-and-why-that-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/corpstaging.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/how-to-protect-your-privacy-online-and-why-that-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"How to protect your privacy online \u2013 and why that matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Ever wondered how much personal information you\u2019ve revealed online? Here\u2019s why it\u2019s best to keep your digital life private.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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TEXT: MELODY TAN<\/p>

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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In the age where every Google search inevitably results in customised ads showing up on your screen, and social media platforms suggest friends of friends to follow, it\u2019s understandable why many people give up on digital privacy. After all, why bother when the Internet already knows so much about you (and all the cat videos you watch)?<\/p>

In reality, we should all be doing our best to maintain our digital privacy. More than just having your embarrassing social media photos shared in public, a lack of digital privacy can have far-reaching consequences.<\/p>

For example, password leaks and hacks can lead to your accounts being hijacked. Even if your passwords are safe, your identity may not be: If your full name and IC number are retrieved by a malicious actor, they can be used to apply for credit cards or loans<\/a>, or even commit fraud at medical institutions<\/a>. In some cases, the victim might not even be aware that their accounts or information have been compromised until they attempt to log in or are notified by the authorities.<\/p>

Here are six ways to keep your personal information safe from potential breach.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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1. CHECK YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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It\u2019s good practice to check on the privacy settings of your social media accounts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. If your profiles are set to public, it\u2019s easy for people to scrape data from them and learn far more about you than you want them to<\/a> \u2013 for example, the times and days you\u2019re most often at work or the gym (so they can break into your home).<\/p>

You should also turn off any location tagging functions. If you frequently tag your neighbourhood as your location, it\u2019s not difficult for someone to ascertain which block or house you might live in. This could be based on landmarks or other recognisable features in the background. Besides making it easier for stalkers, this information might assist impersonators pretending to be you online in order to scam your friends<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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2. YOUR PASSWORD STATUS: IT\u2019S COMPLICATED<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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More complex and unique passwords make it more difficult for hackers to break into your online accounts or hijack your identity.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The more complex and unique your password, the better. These days, many websites and platforms will ask for a password that contains a combination of capital and small letters, numbers, and sometimes even special symbols.<\/p>

Don\u2019t be tempted to use your favourite go-to password or your child\u2019s name, just because they\u2019re easy to remember. Old passwords \u2013 especially if used repeatedly across multiple accounts<\/a> \u2013 are more likely to have been leaked or hacked at some point. And you don\u2019t want your leaked email password to also helpfully unlock your Facebook, Instagram, Shopee and SingPass accounts for the hackers. Remember, names of family members and pets are often shared on social media which makes them easy to guess as passwords.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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3. DON\u2019T REMEMBER PASSWORDS, MANAGE THEM<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Instead of putting your memory skills to the test, you can use password manager software<\/a> \u2013 such as Apple\u2019s strong password generator \u2013 to create and remember long, complex passwords that are unlocked with one master password.<\/p>

A password manager also allows you to disable the save password feature in your Internet browser. When you allow your browser to save passwords, you also enable anyone who has access to your device \u2013 whether physically or remotely \u2013 to view the saved passwords.<\/a> In comparison, even the companies running the password manager software<\/a> won\u2019t know what your stored passwords are.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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4. STAY UNDER THE RADAR <\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Similarly, you should clear your browser\u2019s cache regularly, in case any sensitive information is stored there<\/a> \u2013 making it easy pickings for a hacker.<\/p>\n

If you aren\u2019t a fan of targeted ads, or you simply feel uncomfortable with the fact that many websites sell your collected data to third parties,<\/a> you can consider anonymous search engines. Your search topics and results won\u2019t be recorded or tracked<\/a>, helping you to minimise your digital footprint.<\/p>\n

Use different email addresses for signing up to different accounts, so that if one gets hacked or compromised, your other accounts won\u2019t be affected<\/a>. Don\u2019t worry about having to check multiple email inboxes: You can implement automatic forwarding to the inbox you use most.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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5. ENABLE TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Two-factor authentication generates a unique, time-sensitive one-time password and send it to your phone, helping to increase the security of your online accounts.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Two-factor authentication \u2013 known as 2FA \u2013 offers an additional layer of security when you\u2019re logging in to an account. You might have seen it on your Internet banking app, or on your Gmail account.<\/p>

If you haven\u2019t enabled it yet, make sure to do so. By asking you to confirm your identity after you input your password \u2013 usually through the generation of a unique, time-sensitive one-time password sent to your phone<\/a> \u2013 the 2FA process safeguards your account and the personal information within.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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6. DON\u2019T FORGET ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Finally, a piece of advice that\u2019s been around since the \u201990s, but is still deeply relevant today: Make sure you have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on your desktop or laptop. No matter how careful you are in your digital activities, you won\u2019t be able to evade all malware or malicious online actors.<\/p>

Anti-virus software protects your computer from viruses, spyware, malware and more. It can block spam, prevent loss of your personal information, scan dubious devices and files<\/a> and most importantly, offer you greater peace of mind when it comes to your digital privacy.<\/p>

In this digital age, it\u2019s important to be aware of the types of online crime that may surface, be they on social media or websites. Here\u2019s how you can prevent yourself from falling victim to cybercrimes and phishing scams<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ever wondered how much personal information you\u2019ve revealed online? Here\u2019s why it\u2019s best to keep your digital life private. TEXT: MELODY TAN PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK In the age where every Google search inevitably results in customised ads showing up on your screen, and social media platforms suggest friends of friends to follow, it\u2019s understandable why many people give up on digital privacy. After all, why bother when the Internet already knows so much about you (and all the cat videos you watch)? In reality, we should all be doing our best to maintain our digital privacy. More than just having your embarrassing social media photos shared in public, a lack of digital privacy can have far-reaching consequences. For example, password leaks and hacks can lead to your accounts being hijacked. Even if your passwords are safe, your identity may not be: If your full name and IC number are retrieved by a malicious actor, they can be used to apply for credit cards or loans, or even commit fraud at medical institutions. In some cases, the victim might not even be aware that their accounts or information have been compromised until they attempt to log in or are notified by the authorities. Here are six ways to keep your personal information safe from potential breach. 1. CHECK YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS It\u2019s good practice to check on the privacy settings of your social media accounts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. If your profiles are set to public, it\u2019s easy for people to scrape data from them and learn far more about you than you want them to \u2013 for example, the times and days you\u2019re most often at work or the gym (so they can break into your home). You should also turn off any location tagging functions. If you frequently tag your neighbourhood as your location, it\u2019s not difficult for someone to ascertain which block or house you might live in. This could be based on landmarks or other recognisable features in the background. Besides making it easier for stalkers, this information might assist impersonators pretending to be you online in order to scam your friends. 2. YOUR PASSWORD STATUS: IT\u2019S COMPLICATED More complex and unique passwords make it more difficult for hackers to break into your online accounts or hijack your identity. The more complex and unique your password, the better. These days, many websites and platforms will ask for a password that contains a combination of capital and small letters, numbers, and sometimes even special symbols. Don\u2019t be tempted to use your favourite go-to password or your child\u2019s name, just because they\u2019re easy to remember. Old passwords \u2013 especially if used repeatedly across multiple accounts \u2013 are more likely to have been leaked or hacked at some point. And you don\u2019t want your leaked email password to also helpfully unlock your Facebook, Instagram, Shopee and SingPass accounts for the hackers. Remember, names of family members and pets are often shared on social media which makes them easy to guess as passwords. 3. DON\u2019T REMEMBER PASSWORDS, MANAGE THEM Instead of putting your memory skills to the test, you can use password manager software \u2013 such as Apple\u2019s strong password generator \u2013 to create and remember long, complex passwords that are unlocked with one master password. A password manager also allows you to disable the save password feature in your Internet browser. When you allow your browser to save passwords, you also enable anyone who has access to your device \u2013 whether physically or remotely \u2013 to view the saved passwords. In comparison, even the companies running the password manager software won\u2019t know what your stored passwords are. 4. STAY UNDER THE RADAR Similarly, you should clear your browser\u2019s cache regularly, in case any sensitive information is stored there \u2013 making it easy pickings for a hacker. If you aren\u2019t a fan of targeted ads, or you simply feel uncomfortable with the fact that many websites sell your collected data to third parties, you can consider anonymous search engines. Your search topics and results won\u2019t be recorded or tracked, helping you to minimise your digital footprint. Use different email addresses for signing up to different accounts, so that if one gets hacked or compromised, your other accounts won\u2019t be affected. Don\u2019t worry about having to check multiple email inboxes: You can implement automatic forwarding to the inbox you use most. 5. ENABLE TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION Two-factor authentication generates a unique, time-sensitive one-time password and send it to your phone, helping to increase the security of your online accounts. Two-factor authentication \u2013 known as 2FA \u2013 offers an additional layer of security when you\u2019re logging in to an account. You might have seen it on your Internet banking app, or on your Gmail account. If you haven\u2019t enabled it yet, make sure to do so. By asking you to confirm your identity after you input your password \u2013 usually through the generation of a unique, time-sensitive one-time password sent to your phone \u2013 the 2FA process safeguards your account and the personal information within. 6. DON\u2019T FORGET ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE Finally, a piece of advice that\u2019s been around since the \u201990s, but is still deeply relevant today: Make sure you have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on your desktop or laptop. No matter how careful you are in your digital activities, you won\u2019t be able to evade all malware or malicious online actors. Anti-virus software protects your computer from viruses, spyware, malware and more. It can block spam, prevent loss of your personal information, scan dubious devices and files and most importantly, offer you greater peace of mind when it comes to your digital privacy. In this digital age, it\u2019s important to be aware of the types of online crime that may surface, be they on social media or websites. Here\u2019s how you can prevent yourself from falling victim to cybercrimes and phishing scams.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":21848,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-on-the-edge","category-featured"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to protect your privacy online \u2013 and why that matters - Frontline<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/corpstaging.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/how-to-protect-your-privacy-online-and-why-that-matters\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to protect your privacy online \u2013 and why that matters - Frontline\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ever wondered how much personal information you\u2019ve revealed online? Here\u2019s why it\u2019s best to keep your digital life private. TEXT: MELODY TAN PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK In the age where every Google search inevitably results in customised ads showing up on your screen, and social media platforms suggest friends of friends to follow, it\u2019s understandable why many people give up on digital privacy. After all, why bother when the Internet already knows so much about you (and all the cat videos you watch)? In reality, we should all be doing our best to maintain our digital privacy. More than just having your embarrassing social media photos shared in public, a lack of digital privacy can have far-reaching consequences. For example, password leaks and hacks can lead to your accounts being hijacked. Even if your passwords are safe, your identity may not be: If your full name and IC number are retrieved by a malicious actor, they can be used to apply for credit cards or loans, or even commit fraud at medical institutions. In some cases, the victim might not even be aware that their accounts or information have been compromised until they attempt to log in or are notified by the authorities. Here are six ways to keep your personal information safe from potential breach. 1. CHECK YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS It\u2019s good practice to check on the privacy settings of your social media accounts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. If your profiles are set to public, it\u2019s easy for people to scrape data from them and learn far more about you than you want them to \u2013 for example, the times and days you\u2019re most often at work or the gym (so they can break into your home). You should also turn off any location tagging functions. If you frequently tag your neighbourhood as your location, it\u2019s not difficult for someone to ascertain which block or house you might live in. This could be based on landmarks or other recognisable features in the background. Besides making it easier for stalkers, this information might assist impersonators pretending to be you online in order to scam your friends. 2. YOUR PASSWORD STATUS: IT\u2019S COMPLICATED More complex and unique passwords make it more difficult for hackers to break into your online accounts or hijack your identity. The more complex and unique your password, the better. These days, many websites and platforms will ask for a password that contains a combination of capital and small letters, numbers, and sometimes even special symbols. Don\u2019t be tempted to use your favourite go-to password or your child\u2019s name, just because they\u2019re easy to remember. Old passwords \u2013 especially if used repeatedly across multiple accounts \u2013 are more likely to have been leaked or hacked at some point. And you don\u2019t want your leaked email password to also helpfully unlock your Facebook, Instagram, Shopee and SingPass accounts for the hackers. Remember, names of family members and pets are often shared on social media which makes them easy to guess as passwords. 3. DON\u2019T REMEMBER PASSWORDS, MANAGE THEM Instead of putting your memory skills to the test, you can use password manager software \u2013 such as Apple\u2019s strong password generator \u2013 to create and remember long, complex passwords that are unlocked with one master password. A password manager also allows you to disable the save password feature in your Internet browser. When you allow your browser to save passwords, you also enable anyone who has access to your device \u2013 whether physically or remotely \u2013 to view the saved passwords. In comparison, even the companies running the password manager software won\u2019t know what your stored passwords are. 4. STAY UNDER THE RADAR Similarly, you should clear your browser\u2019s cache regularly, in case any sensitive information is stored there \u2013 making it easy pickings for a hacker. If you aren\u2019t a fan of targeted ads, or you simply feel uncomfortable with the fact that many websites sell your collected data to third parties, you can consider anonymous search engines. Your search topics and results won\u2019t be recorded or tracked, helping you to minimise your digital footprint. Use different email addresses for signing up to different accounts, so that if one gets hacked or compromised, your other accounts won\u2019t be affected. Don\u2019t worry about having to check multiple email inboxes: You can implement automatic forwarding to the inbox you use most. 5. ENABLE TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION Two-factor authentication generates a unique, time-sensitive one-time password and send it to your phone, helping to increase the security of your online accounts. Two-factor authentication \u2013 known as 2FA \u2013 offers an additional layer of security when you\u2019re logging in to an account. You might have seen it on your Internet banking app, or on your Gmail account. If you haven\u2019t enabled it yet, make sure to do so. By asking you to confirm your identity after you input your password \u2013 usually through the generation of a unique, time-sensitive one-time password sent to your phone \u2013 the 2FA process safeguards your account and the personal information within. 6. DON\u2019T FORGET ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE Finally, a piece of advice that\u2019s been around since the \u201990s, but is still deeply relevant today: Make sure you have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on your desktop or laptop. No matter how careful you are in your digital activities, you won\u2019t be able to evade all malware or malicious online actors. Anti-virus software protects your computer from viruses, spyware, malware and more. It can block spam, prevent loss of your personal information, scan dubious devices and files and most importantly, offer you greater peace of mind when it comes to your digital privacy. In this digital age, it\u2019s important to be aware of the types of online crime that may surface, be they on social media or websites. 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Frontline","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/corpstaging.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/how-to-protect-your-privacy-online-and-why-that-matters\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to protect your privacy online \u2013 and why that matters - Frontline","og_description":"Ever wondered how much personal information you\u2019ve revealed online? Here\u2019s why it\u2019s best to keep your digital life private. TEXT: MELODY TAN PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK In the age where every Google search inevitably results in customised ads showing up on your screen, and social media platforms suggest friends of friends to follow, it\u2019s understandable why many people give up on digital privacy. After all, why bother when the Internet already knows so much about you (and all the cat videos you watch)? In reality, we should all be doing our best to maintain our digital privacy. More than just having your embarrassing social media photos shared in public, a lack of digital privacy can have far-reaching consequences. For example, password leaks and hacks can lead to your accounts being hijacked. Even if your passwords are safe, your identity may not be: If your full name and IC number are retrieved by a malicious actor, they can be used to apply for credit cards or loans, or even commit fraud at medical institutions. In some cases, the victim might not even be aware that their accounts or information have been compromised until they attempt to log in or are notified by the authorities. Here are six ways to keep your personal information safe from potential breach. 1. CHECK YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS It\u2019s good practice to check on the privacy settings of your social media accounts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. If your profiles are set to public, it\u2019s easy for people to scrape data from them and learn far more about you than you want them to \u2013 for example, the times and days you\u2019re most often at work or the gym (so they can break into your home). You should also turn off any location tagging functions. If you frequently tag your neighbourhood as your location, it\u2019s not difficult for someone to ascertain which block or house you might live in. This could be based on landmarks or other recognisable features in the background. Besides making it easier for stalkers, this information might assist impersonators pretending to be you online in order to scam your friends. 2. YOUR PASSWORD STATUS: IT\u2019S COMPLICATED More complex and unique passwords make it more difficult for hackers to break into your online accounts or hijack your identity. The more complex and unique your password, the better. These days, many websites and platforms will ask for a password that contains a combination of capital and small letters, numbers, and sometimes even special symbols. Don\u2019t be tempted to use your favourite go-to password or your child\u2019s name, just because they\u2019re easy to remember. Old passwords \u2013 especially if used repeatedly across multiple accounts \u2013 are more likely to have been leaked or hacked at some point. And you don\u2019t want your leaked email password to also helpfully unlock your Facebook, Instagram, Shopee and SingPass accounts for the hackers. Remember, names of family members and pets are often shared on social media which makes them easy to guess as passwords. 3. DON\u2019T REMEMBER PASSWORDS, MANAGE THEM Instead of putting your memory skills to the test, you can use password manager software \u2013 such as Apple\u2019s strong password generator \u2013 to create and remember long, complex passwords that are unlocked with one master password. A password manager also allows you to disable the save password feature in your Internet browser. When you allow your browser to save passwords, you also enable anyone who has access to your device \u2013 whether physically or remotely \u2013 to view the saved passwords. In comparison, even the companies running the password manager software won\u2019t know what your stored passwords are. 4. STAY UNDER THE RADAR Similarly, you should clear your browser\u2019s cache regularly, in case any sensitive information is stored there \u2013 making it easy pickings for a hacker. If you aren\u2019t a fan of targeted ads, or you simply feel uncomfortable with the fact that many websites sell your collected data to third parties, you can consider anonymous search engines. Your search topics and results won\u2019t be recorded or tracked, helping you to minimise your digital footprint. Use different email addresses for signing up to different accounts, so that if one gets hacked or compromised, your other accounts won\u2019t be affected. Don\u2019t worry about having to check multiple email inboxes: You can implement automatic forwarding to the inbox you use most. 5. ENABLE TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION Two-factor authentication generates a unique, time-sensitive one-time password and send it to your phone, helping to increase the security of your online accounts. Two-factor authentication \u2013 known as 2FA \u2013 offers an additional layer of security when you\u2019re logging in to an account. You might have seen it on your Internet banking app, or on your Gmail account. If you haven\u2019t enabled it yet, make sure to do so. By asking you to confirm your identity after you input your password \u2013 usually through the generation of a unique, time-sensitive one-time password sent to your phone \u2013 the 2FA process safeguards your account and the personal information within. 6. DON\u2019T FORGET ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE Finally, a piece of advice that\u2019s been around since the \u201990s, but is still deeply relevant today: Make sure you have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on your desktop or laptop. No matter how careful you are in your digital activities, you won\u2019t be able to evade all malware or malicious online actors. Anti-virus software protects your computer from viruses, spyware, malware and more. It can block spam, prevent loss of your personal information, scan dubious devices and files and most importantly, offer you greater peace of mind when it comes to your digital privacy. In this digital age, it\u2019s important to be aware of the types of online crime that may surface, be they on social media or websites. 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