Sundaymail Editor
4IR Simplified
John Tseriwa
From attending virtual meetings or lessons and visiting our favourite social media sites to online banking, the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) has made technology pervasive.
Billions of devices are now connected online, and with this comes cyber risk.
Cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, invasion of privacy, identity theft and addiction are some of the risks our children face by being online.
NoBullying.org states that 81 percent of teens admit that bullying is easier to get away with online, and about 20 percent of cyberbullied kids think about suicide.
Staying safe online in a connected world is crucial, and it entails applying basic security measures that will improve your safety.
It is easy to understand physical security, for instance, an unlocked door will increase the risk of unauthorised entry.
We do not sleep with unlocked car doors because we know the risks posed by such behaviour.
Round-the-clock protection online requires education and awareness to safeguard our identity, data and devices.
We click unsafe links that promise us freebies because we are not aware of the risks posed.
Use two-factor authentication that will require you to verify your identity after you have logged on using your username and password.
Two-factor authentication is available for most emails and social media sites.
Whenever it is available; it is wise to opt in. Avoid clicking suspicious or strange links and watch out for typos and unrealistic promises like “click here to claim your prize”.
You do not win a prize unless entering a competition.
Cybercriminals seek to infect your device with malware by tricking you into downloading compromised apps and software.
Beware of anything termed “FREE”; there is nothing for free online, and hackers use such language to entice you to provide sensitive information.
Avoid using unsecured public Wi-Fi; if you must use it, avoid entering compromising information like banking details.
Scammers know that we love freebies, and they can set up fake Wi-Fi hotspots to lure “lovers of free internet”.
You will not walk to a stranger and tell them your full name, date of birth, home address and other sensitive information.
The same applies online.
Do not share sensitive information with individuals you have just met on social media. Cybercriminals can cause so much damage with just a little bit of information.
Make use of strong passwords to protect yourself from identity theft online.
Passwords like “12345”, including your partner’s or your child’s names are unsafe.
The reason is hackers or even your ex-lover sometimes use brute-force attacks, which involves “guessing” username and passwords to gain unauthorised access to a system.
As simple as this may sound, brute force is a simple attack method with a high success rate.
Imagine how easy it would be if you used your child’s name.
A strong password has at least 12 characters, combining upper-case and lower- case letters, numbers and symbols.
An example of a strong password that is easy to remember would be “4Pe3trol8@nly”.
We must be deliberate in educating our children about online safety to minimise cases of cyberbullying.
Use antivirus software to protect your data and devices against viruses and malware. In fact, browsing the internet without protection in place is like leaving your car keys in the ignition.
Finally, always back up your data; this can be a lifesaver when your computer gets stolen or infected with a virus.
Have a blessed Easter and stay safe!
John Tseriwa is a tech entrepreneur and a digital transformation advocate focusing on delivering business solutions powered by 4IR technologies. He can be contacted at [email protected] or +263773289802.
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