Better Safe Than Sorry
Better safe than sorry is no longer an adage. We live in a technology driven world and we spend a substantial amount of time on the internet. From consuming news and entertainment on the go to banking and financial transactions, the world is literally at one’s finger tips. However, how secure are we in this connected environment?
If you have followed scriptures, every religion speaks of a the good and evil. Likewise, there are devils lurking in the cyberspace who can wipe your bank account clean at the click of a button or wipe clean your digital presence. Worse, they can steal your identity. If we look around, India probably has one of the most stringent security procedures for online banking. Yet, fraudulent activities take place. This #worldpasswordday keep in mind the following:
Change your password at regular intervals – change your password at regular intervals. Most sites require alpha-numeric passwords. Do not follow a set pattern while setting your password. Do not use family name, date of birth. Use something that only you are aware of
Change your PIN – Card cloning is very common. Update your debit and credit card pins at regular intervals
Separate passwords and PINs – Have separate passwords and separate Personal Identification Number (PIN) for every email account, social media account, debit & credit cards
Smartphone PIN – Have dual verification steps to switch on your smartphone. Try and lock as many apps as possible, so that in case of you losing your smartphone, you can reset them
Losing smartphone – Now this is a nightmare. The moment you realise that your phone has been stolen/misplaced, the first thing to do is to reset all your passwords by logging in to your account from the nearest available laptop/pc. Most androids and iPhones have the option of “Find my device.” Keep it on switch on mode
While nothing is full proof, the onus is on us to take as much of safety measures as we can. Cast the net wide. Most of the times, we use the same password for various accounts. STOP THAT. However cumbersome it might be, have separate passwords for each account. At the cost of repeating myself and what we know already, do not share your password with anyone. Cover the camera of your laptop when not in use.
This World Password Day promise yourself to change passwords regularly. Remember, it is better to be safe than sorry.
The author is Policy observer and alumnus Takshashila Institution
