Don't Click on That Link - Ways Authors Can Protect Themselves

/
click.png

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The threats out there are constant and dangerous. We have to be vigilant all the time. It only takes one slip to cause big problems. Make sure that you’re protecting yourself. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Don’t click on any links or attachments that you can’t verify.

  • These attacks can come via email, text, phone call, or social media friend/connection requests.

  • Legitimate contacts don’t ask for your login or password.

  • Never use the link or the phone number in a suspicious email or text or one that a unsolicited caller gives you. Call/email using a verified contact that you already have or use a search engine to locate the company’s official page and contact information.

  • Hackers use social engineering to find ways in. You don’t have to accept every friend request. If it looks suspicious, delete or block it. When you accept them, you give them access to your information. This allows them to harvest information about you and others. Also, it provides them legitimacy when they send a request to your friends. It may look benign to you, but gathering information about causes, vacations, travel, and interests gives them additional ways to appear to connect with you and to lull you into a false sense of security.

  • Many of the scams are lonely hearts, causes asking for money or support, or fake friend accounts. If you’re already linked to someone, and you get a second request, be cautious.

  • Many of these scams create a sense of urgency or emergency. You need to provide what they’re asking right now or your service will be cut off, you’ll be arrested, you’re in violation, etc. That’s a red flag. When people are rushed or frustrated, they don’t think things through, and they often click or provide information that they shouldn’t. Stop and think before you respond.

  • Clicking on a link or an attachment is just as bad as providing your personal information. Many of these install malware or viruses on your computer. They can track your keystrokes, collect personal information, and even turn on your camera and microphone to see/hear what you’re doing.

  • Take a minute to look at your security settings on your social media sites. Is all of your information open to the world?

  • Make sure that you download your security patches regularly. Security threats change constantly, and you need to make sure you plug any holes in your operating system or applications. Updates take time, but unpatched systems are easy targets.

  • Computers running extremely slowly, frequent/unplanned shut downs, pop-ups appearing on your screen when you’re not on the internet, and your friends receiving social media requests or strange emails from you that you didn’t send are signs that you’ve been infiltrated. Change your passwords and get your system scanned and cleaned.

As authors, we want to build our platforms and increase our following. Just be careful. Bots and hackers aren’t the followers you want. Don’t put yourself or your personal information at risk.