DESCRIBED THE COUNTRY AS THE EIGHTH MOST TARGETED IN THE WORLD FOR RANSOMWARE , WITH MORE THAN HALF OF SOUTH AFRICAN FIRMS AFFECTED THE PREVIOUS YEAR . SOUTH AFRICA HAS A HIGH ADOPTION OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND DEVICES SUCH AS SMARTPHONES , BOOSTED BY THE COUNTRY ’ S LARGE YOUTH POPULATION , ACCORDING TO PETZER . HOWEVER , THE GENERAL POPULATION IS NOT TECH-SAVVY , AND LACKS THE TRAINING AND AWARENESS NEEDED TO INTERACT WITH DEVICES SAFELY AND SECURELY . HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF AGAINST DIGITAL INTRUDERS “ YOUR DIGITAL SECURITY IS ONLY AS STRONG AS YOUR WEAKEST PASSWORD ,” WARNS NICHOLSON . “ IT ’ S ESSENTIAL TO IMPLEMENT PROACTIVE MEASURES AND REMAIN VIGILANT .” HERE ARE SOME TIPS FROM JUSTMONEY TO PREVENT YOU BECOMING A CYBERCRIME STATISTIC : 1 . CREATE COMPLEX PASSWORDS THAT ARE LONG , UNIQUE , AND COMPRISE A MIX OF LETTERS ( UPPER AND LOWER CASE ), NUMBERS , AND SPECIAL CHARACTERS . AVOID BIRTHDATES OR PETS ’ NAMES . 2 . DON ’ T REUSE PASSWORDS , BUT RATHER GENERATE A PASSWORD FOR EACH ACCOUNT . 3 . ENABLE TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION ( 2FA ), WHICH TYPICALLY INVOLVES RECEIVING A CODE ON YOUR PHONE OR EMAIL , WHICH YOU ENTER ALONGSIDE YOUR PASSWORD . 4 . UPDATE PASSWORDS REGULARLY , AND DIARISE REMINDERS . 5 . BEWARE OF PHISHING ATTEMPTS . DON ’ T CLICK ON LINKS OR PROVIDE LOGIN CREDENTIALS , ESPECIALLY IN RESPONSE TO UNSOLICITED EMAILS OR MESSAGES . 6 . USE REPUTABLE PASSWORD MANAGERS THAT GENERATE , AND SECURELY STORE , STRONG PASSWORDS . THESE TOOLS ENHANCE SECURITY AND STREAMLINE THE LOGIN PROCESS . 7 . EDUCATE YOURSELF ON BEST PRACTICES IN PASSWORD AND ONLINE SECURITY .
READ A JUSTMONEY ARTICLE ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR BANKING DETAILS SAFE ONLINE .
8 . MONITOR ACCOUNT ACTIVITY . MANY PLATFORMS HAVE FEATURES TO REVIEW RECENT LOGINS AND DEVICES ACCESSING YOUR ACCOUNT . 9 . USE ENCRYPTION TOOLS TO MAKE INFORMATION UNREADABLE TO UNAUTHORISED PEOPLE AND PROTECT YOUR SENSITIVE DATA . 10 . REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY AT ONCE TO THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES OR PLATFORM ADMINISTRATORS IF YOU SUSPECT UNAUTHORISED ACCESS . THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN FRAUD PREVENTION SERVICE ( SAFPS ) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION THAT FIGHTS FRAUD AND FINANCIAL CRIME . ITS SERVICES INCLUDE PROTECTIVE REGISTRATION FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED IDENTITY FRAUD , ID / PASSPORT THEFT , OR HAD THEIR IDENTITY COMPROMISED , TO PROTECT THEM AGAINST FURTHER LOSSES . CALL THE SAFPS HELPLINE ON 011 867 2234 , OR EMAIL SAFPS @ SAFPS . ORG . ZA . A CREDIT REPORT SHOWS YOUR CREDIT HISTORY FROM SEVERAL SOURCES , INCLUDING BANKS AND CREDIT CARD COMPANIES . CHECKING YOUR CREDIT REPORT WON ’ T DIRECTLY CONFIRM THAT PASSWORDS HAVE BEEN STOLEN , BUT CAN PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTO POTENTIAL IDENTITY THEFT OR UNAUTHORISED ACCESS TO YOUR ACCOUNTS .
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