Cybercrime is something that affects us all and it forces us to be always on our guard. Criminals are getting more and more inventive and finding ways to hack into your life. From innocent-looking social media contact requests to forced attacks on your home computer or phone. Read below our top 10 tips to avoid getting hacked and discover sustainable solutions for your online image that are important for you or your business.

The most important is to keep the hackers out. Compare it with your home: You don’t leave the doors and windows open, nor you keep the key below the doormat. See below 10 tips to keep all your accounts safe and secure:

1. Use difficult and unique passwords
2. Don’t use one password for all your platforms
3. Change your passwords regularly
4. Use 2-factor authentication when available*
5. Use Authentication apps (like Google Authenticator)*
6. Keep your browser (on all devices) and your anti-virus always up-to-date
7. Don’t share your passwords
8. Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know (and are not connected to your friends)
9. Don’t click on links in suspicious e-mails, SMS, viber, messenger, or other applications
10. Don’t share password information by phone

But even after following all the above tips, nothing is bulletproof. If your online image and your collected contacts are important to your business, there’s only one safe solution. A website.

A note on 2-factor authentication and authentication apps*.

Make sure you have authentication apps on several devices or make sure that you can access them if you lose your phone for example. Read carefully the instructions on how to use them.
In case you use your mobile number for 2-factor authentication, don’t forget this if you need to change your phone number at some point. If a change of mobile number occurs and you find yourself locked out of your social media account, it might be irreversible, since the phone number registered for the 2-factor authentication will not be in use anymore.

Make sure you have your audience’s data for yourself

Many companies, venues, and artists have a Social media profile and/or page. After years of activity, you might have collected thousands of followers which are important to you. Unfortunately, you don’t “have” their details, and after a hack in your social media accounts they are all gone in a second.

With a proper website that collects customer data or just e-mail addresses, you have a much more solid connection with your audience which is the most valuable asset you have. Your followers will always be informed about your latest news by just visiting your website, which by the way will be fully customized, designed and developed according to your brand’s needs and style.

So websites can’t be hacked?

Of course, they can. But it is easy to revert to the day before the hack and you’re back in safe waters. Also, your website developer and/or hosting partner will be available to reach by phone or e-mail. In contrast, the big social media companies will never be able to answer you personally and solve your issue fast.

So in case you don’t have a website yet, make sure to take the step as soon as possible and start collecting more solid data from your audience. Use social media to attract more visitors and don’t rely on other platforms other than your website which you control yourself.