Just been hacked? Tips for staying safe online

by Leo Wiles
16 May 2014

Realising your computer’s been compromised can strike fear – and frustration – into the heart of anyone on deadline (or without a dedicated IT department on the other end of the phone.)

And hot on the heels of the Heartbleed crisis, comes the news that two million stolen online passwords were discovered this week on a Netherlands server – affecting account holders from Facebook, Google, Yahoo and other firms. If your online security is all over the shop, there’s no better time to beef it up – especially considering journalists (along with political activists and human rights’ workers) have often been the target of security surveillance. And, at the recent Black Hat conference, hackers are taking not just an interest in journos but in small news organisations and bloggers too.

So how do you protect yourself from online attack? Here are some tips on digital safety from Manisha Aryal and Dylan Jones, authors of Internews’ SaferJourno guide.

Securing your smartphone

1. Lock it with a strong password
2. Check your security settings. iOS users can also instruct their phones to automatically delete all data after a certain number of incorrect unlock attempts.
3. Encrypt whatever you decide to keep
4. Consider extra security options Use TextSecure for private SMS text messages, ChatSecure for private chat messages, Orbot (an anonymizing network) and Orweb (an anonymizing browser).

Securing your PC and online accounts 

1. Get antivirus software and set it to download updates automatically. Make sure your firewall is on.
2. Use strong passwords Don’t use the same password for more than one account. Use an ecrypted program like LASTPASS or Password Safe to store passwords.
3. Encrypt everything You may want to consider using the free utility called TrueCrypt. Clear your cache regularly too.
4. Protect accounts with two-step verification This feature is supported by several popular sites including Dropbox, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter and Yahoo!
5. Careful what you download You should only download software directly from a developer’s website, or from a site that tests for malware, such as FileHippo or Softpedia.
6. Don’t click on links in email Copy and paste the link into your browser, or re-retype it.
7. Don’t open an attachment in email unless you know the person who sent it. Scan an attachment with your antivirus application before you open it, or you can open the attachment in Google Drive.
8. Don’t install pirated software. It may be cheap, but it can come with extras you don’t want, like computer viruses.

For more information see www.internews.org

How paranoid are you about online security? What tools do you use to prevent being hacked off?

• About
• Latest Posts

Leo Wiles

Leo Wiles has worked as an editor, journalist and PR for over 20 years before recently retraining as a photographer. These days, she spends her time behind a lens, juggling her own clients alongside raising her three gorgeous kids.

Latest posts by Leo Wiles (see all)

• ASK US WEDNESDAY: “I need to upskill but can’t afford the time to do it” - August 11, 2021
• 7 freelance briefs that belong in the bin - June 3, 2020
• ASK US WEDNESDAY: “Your top tax tips for freelancers?” - July 25, 2019