When it comes to security of digital assets, there really is no such thing as being too careful. The sad truth is that hackers and malware are all over the internet, and you can’t always trust the people around you. Just about every organization or individual online has experienced a major breach at some point in time.
That’s just how this new digital world works – we’re more connected than ever before, but also more vulnerable than ever before.
We’ve compiled a list of top 10 tips that will keep you and your digital assets safe online.
1. Set a strong password
We recommend you set a unique password for your account. The password should be at least 12 digits long and include a mix of upper-case and lower-case letters, numerical digits and symbols. You should reset your password regularly.
However, we’ve all forgotten our passwords at one time or another. In fact, 40% of US crypto owners forget their passwords!
Fortunately, this will all change with the introduction of UKISS Hugware™. It is the next-gen hardware wallet which allows you to store your crypto in a secure location without having to rely on a recovery phrase.
How? Patented in more than 20 countries, UKISS Hugware™ is an all-encompassing unique pair of personal cryptographic key management devices. An authentication key (A-Key) safeguards your crypto assets’ private keys as well as your sensitive data and documents. While a hassle-free rescue-key (R-Key) recovers your password and private keys in a breeze.
This will ensure that users do not lose their crypto in the event where they are unable to access their original wallet, thereby eliminating the risk of loss and theft by malware or other means. (Visit www.ukiss.io for more info)
2. Use two-factor authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is a security feature that requires your confirmation on two separate devices whenever doing something important with your account (such as logging in or withdrawing your funds).
The 16-digit code you get when setting up 2FA can be used to enable access on a new device. This is useful in case you lose your phone but can be dangerous if not stored properly! Write down the code and store it in a safe place offline where only you can find it.
3. Secure your email
Make sure you change your email password regularly. We also recommend you enable 2FA for all your email accounts, as keeping your email safe is essential for the security of your account. Most email providers support 2FA. If yours doesn’t, we recommend you switch to a more secure email provider.
4. Keep your devices updated and free of malware
Malware can be used to steal information from your device, giving an attacker easier access to your accounts. To protect your devices from malware, you should always:
• Use up-to-date anti-virus protection and scan your device regularly.
• Update device with the most recent version of the operating system and security updates.
• Use the latest version of apps, particularly your web browser.
• Protect your browser from malicious ads with an ad blocker.
• Do not use browser plug-ins developed by unknown third parties.
5. Protect your cloud storage accounts
If an attacker gains access to your cloud-storage account where your smartphone or computer syncs data, they may get a lot of information helping them compromise many of your accounts. You should use the same security measures with your cloud storage accounts as with the rest of your accounts.
• Use a strong password and change it regularly.
• Enable 2FA.
• Protect the email used to sign into cloud storage.
Alternatively, you can disable backups from your devices to cloud storage to avoid this risk.
6. Don’t share your passwords and logins with anyone
Keep in mind that you should never trust individuals posing as official staff if they demand your account password or remote access to your device. Giving away this information puts your account and assets at great risk.
UKISS will never ask you for your passwords or login credentials, never demand remote access to your device and never advise you to change your security settings (for instance to turn off 2FA).
7. Enable withdrawal address whitelisting
Withdrawal address whitelisting allows you to control which addresses are allowed to withdraw from your account. This is useful in cases where you have a large amount of funds deposited with an exchange, and want to ensure that they cannot be withdrawn from arbitrary addresses.
Using withdrawal address whitelisting, one must send a request for your exchange account’s withdrawal address to be added to the list before it will accept withdrawals from that address.
8. Control your own account
You should always maintain full control of your account. Never let other people open accounts in your name and don’t give your login credentials to anyone, ever. Even with managed accounts, no one should ever have full control except the account owner.
9. Be careful about what you say and do online
Review your online presence and see how much personal information someone could learn about you to steal your identity. It may not be wise to be too vocal about your holdings online.
Beware of fake profiles on Facebook, Twitter or other social media. They might attempt to steal your assets or the information used to access your account. If you come across an offer that sounds too good to be true, it probably is, even if it is endorsed by a well-known public personality. We recommend you block and/or report such profiles and discourage you from opening any of their messages.
Also beware of giveaways and people asking you to send them funds through social media.
10. Only open email from trusted addresses
We all know how easy it is to fall for a phishing scam and give away your login information. The first step in safeguarding yourself against these attacks is to only open emails from trusted sources.
While there are ways to help identify a phish, it is safest just not to click on any links in emails you aren’t expecting or haven’t confirmed as trusted. This means if your friend sends you a link, but it’s not the typical email address for them, don’t click on it! It could be a scammer pretending to be your friend.
After reading this article, you should now have a better understanding of the importance and methods of keeping your digital assets safe.
UKISS can help you with digital asset management and security issues, so that your digital assets are safe and secure! Find out more about our services by visiting www.ukiss.io today.
