Hi, this is Masha from Coding Blonde.
Do you have extra 5 minutes to spare?
Whether you’re standing in a line at a grocery store or are have 5 minutes before a meeting
starts:
Don’t waste them.
Stop scrolling social media feeds and improve your online security instead.
Yes, even 5 minutes can make a difference.
Let’s talk about what quick and easy actions you can take.
First, take care of your online data.
Every day you browse, post, shop, make payments, chat and do a bunch of other things on the
internet.
So live your online life with confidence that your privacy is protected.
How?
Install NordVPN on your devices.
You should secure all of them: your smartphone, tablet and laptop.
For now, let’s take care of your mobile device.
Go to the App Store or Play Store, search NordVPN, and install the app.
Once you set it up, connect to VPN.
It wraps your online data in encryption that protects you from prying eyes and cybercriminals.
Next, think about that one password you’re using for multiple accounts.
Or, the simple one that’s easy enough to guess.
The golden rule is to have a strong and unique password for every website and service.
So while you have these 5 minutes, tighten up your security by updating one weak password
to a better one.
Changing even one password at a time will make a huge difference.
To make things easy, I recommend using a password manager like NordPass.
It not only generates complex passwords, but also keeps them securely stored in a vault
– so you don’t have to stress about remembering them all!
Speaking of repeating passwords, I used to be guilty of that.
Until a security breach when that password was leaked and I felt like I had to race against
time to change it on all accounts where I’ve used it.
Now I have a password manager creating 33-symbol combinations for me that I wouldn’t know
how to pronounce.
Every password is unique and super strong.
Don’t make the same mistake and don’t wait until it’s too late.
Do it one password at a time at your pace.
Protect your accounts!
What else can you do in those 5 minutes?
Set up 2-factor authentication for one of your accounts.
Start with a more sensitive one, for example, your email, or social media.
2-factor authentication, or 2FA in short, gives a quick security boost to your account
by creating a second shield of protection.
When you have enabled 2FA, after entering your password, you will need to take an extra
step to log in.
Typically, you will receive a text message to your phone with a code you need to enter.
This verifies that it’s really you – not a hacker – trying to log in.
Alternatively, you can use an authenticator app.
In case if you travel without cellular service, the app won’t let you get locked out of
your accounts.
2FA might seem like a bit of a hassle, as quickly entering your password is no longer
enough to access your social feed or emails.
But believe me, your peace of mind is worth those few extra seconds.
I’ve had an attack on my blog where bots were trying to guess my login information.
Luckily my website would lock out IP addresses after they’d get it wrong 3 times in a row,
so it slowed them down.
However, when you have a computer program trying to guess your password, it’s only
a matter of time until it tries all possible combinations and finds the right one.
I had a strong password, but that made me immediately enable 2-factor authentication
for extra security and that peace of mind.
Finally, here’s another thing you can do in just a few seconds: disable Bluetooth,
Wi-Fi, and location services if you're not using them at the moment.
In just a few taps you will combat some serious security threats.
For example, Bluetooth is far from a perfect technology.
It has vulnerabilities that allow hackers to intercept your connection.
That’s why leaving Bluetooth on at all times is not a good idea.
Me – I use it to pair wireless headphones with my smartphone.
It definitely is super convenient.
But I’ve already developed a habit: headphones – off, Bluetooth – off.
I actually do the same with Wi-Fi.
I disable it when I’m not using it.
I don’t want my phone to auto-join a previously used Wi-Fi network without my knowledge.
And the location services – I turn them on only when I use an app that needs it.
For example, when catching a ride, getting directions to a specific place, or ordering
food delivery.
By doing so, I don’t let my phone keep track of all my whereabouts and limit the data that
services collect about me.
So here it is, a few quick things that you can do to strengthen your online security
in no time!
Everybody has 5 spare minutes in their day.
So why not use them to improve your digital life?