Times are definitely changing in the technology world, which results in our being careful with what we expose our children to. The school session has just began, the hackers, identity thieves, and other unethical people are also ready to take advantage during this time.
Examples of scam alerts to watch out for during this season are:
- An email claiming to contain some important information or a problem with the registration process of a school portal.
- Scholarship scams with fake tuition payment processors
- Fake and spam phone calls
- Text message requesting personal information such as passwords and login details. Such information should be confidential.
- Fake friend requests are especially common on children’s social media handles. Parents should regulate what their children are watching on the internet and social media.
In this article, we shall highlight some of the ways to stay safe during this back-to-school period.
- Having a strong password on all your school accounts
By “strong password,” that means coming up with the most comprehensive and unique password for all your accounts. It is advisable to have unique passwords for all your online accounts. Avoid using the same password and email address for all your accounts because if one of them is breached, be sure the rest have been too.
- Embrace using a multi-factor authenticator:
A multi-factor authenticator (MFA) is an authentication method that requires a user to provide two or more verification factors in order to gain access to a certain online platform. The MFA adds a layer of security in a world where passwords are being used even on social media accounts.
- Share any information with caution.
Be extremely cautious when sharing any school-related information. Some methods include being cautious with the information that is shared, particularly on accounts that require online access and share limited information.
In conclusion, cybersecurity education and awareness is paramount to safeguarding personal or public information. Visit KeNIC’s website www.kenic.or.ke to learn more about cybersecurity.