SKY has warned millions of customers to make four important checks.
If you don’t, you could find yourself dealing with a cybersecurity nightmare.
An account break-in could be very costly.
Hackers could pilfer your private info to defraud you, or rack up charges on your account.
They could make fraudulent purchases, and potentially use your stolen information to break into other accounts.
There’s no telling what a hacker could do with your information once it’s in their hands.
So keeping your accounts locked down is extremely important.
In an official security memo, Sky has revealed four checks that everyone must make to stay safe online.
The first step is to make sure you’ve got Multi-Factor Authentication turned on.
This is where you need a one-time code in addition to your password for logging in to websites and apps.
It gives you an extra layer of security, meaning your account stays safe even if your password is hacked or leaked.
“Enable this to prevent unauthorised access to your services/content,” Sky advised.
The second step is to never save your credentials to a shared computer.
Often you’ll be prompted to store your login details or stay signed in.
But it’s dangerous if other people can also log in.
It might not be a huge problem at home (although it could be!), but public computers pose a real security risk.
“Don’t tick remember my password or Keep me signed in, and always sign out when you’re finished,” Sky warned.
The third step is to make sure you choose a strong and unique password.
“Make sure when creating a new password that this is made up of at least six characters and a combination of letters, numbers and symbols,” Sky said.
“Never use a password that you’ve used before.”
Complex passwords are much harder for hackers to guess or “crack”.
And not repeating them is also extremely important.
Often when a password is leaked online, hackers will try it on your other accounts too.
But if you don’t re-use passwords, it blocks this common attack.
Finally, Sky said that you must look out for suspicious changes to your account.
“If you notice a unplanned change or new ‘profile’ on your service, report this to your provider in the first instance by visiting the companies website and using verified contact information,” Sky explained.
It’s extremely important that you use official contact information.
If you’re sent a threatening email or text demanding information or cash, don’t use the contact details given in the message.
It’s likely another fraudulent bid to steal your money or info.
Instead call the company directly using their official phone number listed on the website.
