5 Ways to Maintain Your (Cyber) Health During the Pandemic
At Q Wave, we know that COVID-19 has forced each of us to spend much more time online. Whether it's for work, school, or just plain entertainment, we are all finding ways to socially connect at a distance.
For example, video conferencing tools such as Zoom have replaced our in-person gatherings, and any instances where meeting in person might be necessary.
Suppose one of those instances is the defence of your doctoral dissertation. You've spent years working on getting to this level in your education, and then, in this pivotal moment, your online meeting is suddenly interrupted by pornographic imagery and derogatory text.
Such was the experience of Dennis Johnson, who was the victim of a "Zoom bombing." His is but one of many such occurrences on the popular video conferencing program, Zoom. From community gatherings to church congregations, the list of incidents is long and widespread.
Zoom has since implemented several security updates to its software to address the vulnerabilities, but as with any technology, there will always be issues. Security updates notwithstanding, many large corporations like Google and SpaceX have banned Zoom on their corporate computers, citing privacy concerns. When we addressed this issue at Q Wave, we opted to use Cisco Webex as a trusted provider.
But it's not just online video conferencing software that users need to be cognizant when using; threats can exist when using email, social media, online shopping, and more.
Because of this, Canadians need to protect themselves while online. Here are 5 tips for maintaining your cyber health.
1. The Writing's In The Email
Roughly 281 billion emails were sent and received each day in 2018 - a number which is expected to increase to over 347 billion in 2022.
With so much digital data travelling back and forth, users need to know how to spot emails that might be malicious or "phishing."
What is "phishing," you ask? Good question. Phishing emails are an attempt to get sensitive information by pretending to be a legitimate sender. Cybercriminals will try to impersonate government organizations, phone companies, banks, even people you know.
According to the CRTC, as many as 1 in 25 branded emails are phishing emails, and they are very easy to fall for. 10% of Canadians say they have replied to a phishing message unknowingly.
One of the most straightforward tips for spotting a phishing email is to look for spelling mistakes and suspicious wording. Spell-check features are embedded in almost all email programs. When legitimate companies send out marketing emails, it is usually someone's job to proofread the information before it gets mailed out to customers, so obvious spelling mistakes are a dead giveaway of phishing.
Companies that require sensitive information, such as banking information, often have policies that state they will never ask you for this information by email. This is especially true for emails asking for your password!
Bottom line: read and re-read suspicious emails before taking any action (which includes clicking links or opening attachments). If you aren't sure if an email is legitimate, call the company that is contacting you to confirm that they sent the email.
2. Reputation is Everything
As a digital consumer, you have choice; almost too much choice. When looking at businesses online, it's essential to consider the company's reputation, name brand, and website design.
If you have the option, shop local, and support small businesses. Do a little research by checking reviews of the company, whether through Google, the Better Business Bureau, or sites like Yelp. Read the reviews and judge for yourself if the company seems legitimate or has a history of poor customer service.
Amid the pandemic, there has been an uptick in misinformation. When looking for information about public health initiatives, make sure you are looking at verified, official government social media accounts and websites.
Website design can also give away a fake site or even one with malicious intent. There are plenty of web design companies out there who can create professional sites at low costs, so there is no reason for a business not to have a professional website.
You can also check the site's security by looking at the URL (the line that starts with https...). If the URL is "http" (hypertext transfer protocol) instead of "https" (hypertext transfer protocol SECURE), it is likely not a secure site. URLs that start with https means the site is authenticated, and the data is protected during transit. In short, your private information cannot be intercepted.
3. If It's Too Good to be True...
While scrolling through my social media feed one day, I came across and fell for a scam that was too good to be true. I knew that something was not right, but I couldn't resist buying Oakley sunglasses at a 90% discount! I recall having a gut feeling that something was off about it but made the purchase anyway.
Buyer's remorse kicked in almost immediately, and I went to check if I could cancel the purchase. I tried to find the contact centre page and couldn't find one for the seller. When I finally found a phone number, it was on a page full of spelling mistakes and clearly a fake. The credit card company also proved to be unhelpful. They told me I'd have to wait and see if the product actually arrived or not, and THEN I could report it as fraudulent.
Weeks later, a package arrived from China with the sunglasses. The box reeked of cigarette smoke, and the sunglasses were obvious counterfeits. I couldn't send them back, so I sucked it up and kept them. But lesson learned that's for sure!
Social media scams like this are not uncommon. Online purchases on smartphones are further complicated by the aesthetic, which hides things like secure URLs on the screen to offer more screen space. Money may be tight right now but beware the urge to jump on an offer that can't possibly be true.
4. You Shall Not Pass(word)!
No article on cyber safety would be complete without talking about passwords. We are all guilty of either reusing passwords across multiple sites or using passwords that are far too simple ("123456" is one of the most common).
If you want to keep your passwords, we recommend checking to see how long it would take a computer to crack your password. According to Consumer Protection BC, your password should be able to withstand 15 million attempts per second and should take years to crack.
A commonly accepted strategy for creating strong passwords is to use a phrase that you can remember and take the first letter from each word. For example, if we took the title of this article "5 Ways to Maintain Your Cyber Health During The Pandemic" and used the first letter of each word, you would get 5WtMYCHDTP. According to a password test, it would take 8 months to crack that password, if I add a # symbol to the end, that goes up to 400 years!
You might also find yourself drowning in passwords and struggling to remember all of them. This is where a password manager comes in. There are plenty of options out there, but here are some guidelines to keep in mind.
5. Digital Education Starts at Home
With schools closed, many children are now spending far more time online than ever before. As a result, predators are taking advantage of the increased screen time to connect with young people online.
A CBC article reports that police say predators are using sophisticated techniques to connect with young people wherever they can find them online. In some cases, they impersonate a youth around the victim's age. Predators draw them into sexually explicit conversations and convince them to share photos and videos.
Additionally, the article explains that "predators mock the tips that are offered by police to parents," which indicates an assumption that parents don't know enough to protect their kids.
Technology evolves quickly, and there is no way to keep up with all of it, but you can start with the devices and games your children are already using. Talk to them about what online safety looks like and create space for them to feel comfortable trusting you with situations that require adult intervention. Learn how things like online games are being used for more than just gaming.
One tip that has been shared widely online is modelling good digital citizenship for your children. Get them involved and show them what responsible technology use looks like. We know from education that modelling positive behaviours is far more effective than a reactive approach to negative behaviours.
Finally, keep an eye on those security updates. As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, Zoom bombing has become (mostly) a thing of the past with new security patches being implemented. Ensure that your devices are running current operating systems and look for "Check for Updates" features in the software you're using. The more you stay on top of updates, the less likely your chances of experiencing the darker sides of the Internet.
Consumer Education is What We're About
The Internet is a big place, but we're here to help you navigate it. Q Wave, and our parent company, Utility Network & Partners Inc. (UTILITYnet), are committed to educating consumers on Canada's telecommunications market.
Together with our partners, we can provide Albertans with affordable utility services, excellent customer care, and a helping hand when our customers need it most. We are local.
Stay tuned to our blog and social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram) to stay up-to-date on what is happening in the utility market.