What Hacking on Yahoo & Other Social Networking Websites Teaches Us

 

Hacking of social networking websites are now a common part of our cyber lives. Although one can never be too cautious for data breaches, but proper planning and some awareness can help a lot.

 

M.I.T. engineers in the 1950s and 1960s first popularized the term and concept of hacking. Cybersecurity helps to prevent hackers from unauthorized access to your social media accounts. Speaking of social media and hacking……

The Ugly Case of Yahoo

If you had an account on Yahoo, back in 2013, then it was HACKED, among the other 3 billion accounts. This piece of shocking report comes through the company itself. Precisely on 3rd of October, 2017. Therefore, Each and every account was hacked during that time.

Now, this is a big revelation and should have come much sooner. Nonethless, we now know how much risk is there online or even on top social networking sites in India 

Later on, Yahoo posted a press statement, an SEC filing and an updated FAQ about the 2013 data breach to provide more information.

(Credit: Business Insider)

What it Teaches Us?

• As it happens in a hacking scenario, miscreants took over Yahoo accounts. All usernames and passwords were exposed to them.

• With the stolen data, fraudsters have a higher chance of gaining access to the victims’ bank accounts. Most people reuse passwords or make multiple versions of the same passwords that are easy to hack

• There is likely to be an escalation of email frauds and account takeovers. The best thing you can do is to reset your password. Moreover, you have to be careful about monitoring your personal accounts. Also, don’t forget to change that password anywhere else you use such as on Indian social networking sites or music store online.

 Also Read: Five Free Social Media Analytics Tools You Need in 2017

Other Steps You Can Take

1. Delete Account –

That’s simple. Best way for online account safety is to delete an account you are not using anymore. Another thing to do is to unlink your Yahoo account from your mobile phone.

2. Two-Factor Authentication –

First of all, consider your password to be the first or one-factor, and then you add another layer to security, this is the second factor.

This second factor can be passwords, keycodes, second emails and even second-account access for multiple users [like on Facebook].

So, turn on two-factor authentication on Yahoo and other social networking websites that you use.

3. Install a VPN –

Virtual Private Network or VPN is like a secure tunnel between your PC and destinations you visit on the internet.

It encrypts your data as its goes between your device and the server. This makes it much harder for hackers to access your personal information.

4. Keep your Antivirus up to date –

Because you wish to remain safe, do keep yourself protected online. Each day your PC gets exposed to potential threats. System updates helps you patch all those vulnerable sectors.

Good antivirus software not only give excellent malware detection and webcam protection. In addition, they also include a sandboxed browser for safe online banking and shopping, online music and social media.

5. Password Manager –

Lastly, use Password Managers. They secure your data, both on your machine, in the cloud, and on social networking websites with the toughest form of encryption. And, they can also generate new, strong passwords for you, offer two-step verification.

Some of the good ones available include: dashlane, LastPass, KeePass, Keeper, StickyPassword, etc.

 Source : https://sabakuch.com/blog/2017/10/12/hacking-yahoo-social-networking-websites-teaches-us/