Having your social media accounts hacked is a nightmare situation for anybody, but made especially terrifying for people that rely on the platforms for their jobs or income. Being an online influencer means you have to produce regular content to keep your followers invested, along with sharing branded content and collaborations.
Sam O’Brien, Chief Marketing Officer at affise, shares his thoughts:
‘After an online data breach in 2019 that leftover 200,000 social media influencers with their personal information (including passwords) exposed for the world to see, it is more crucial than ever to ensure your details are protected.
‘If social media is your livelihood, someone gaining access to your accounts could mean a huge drop of income and possibly even a loss of future brand collaborations and advertisement deals.
‘There are many things that can be done to ensure your privacy remains secure – and there is much more to it than simply ensuring you have a really secure password that’s changed on a regular basis. All these small measures add up when it comes to online security, which is why we felt the need to devise a fool-proof list of dos and don’ts.’
As part of their brand new Most Popular Influencers Around the World Report, the team at affise have compiled the following list of tips to help ensure social media users stay as safe as possible online:
Pick a super-strong password
This sounds obvious, but picking an intricate password can be a saving grace when it comes to keeping your account secure. Many people can fall into the convenient trap of having the same or similar password for every social media or online account, which can make it all too easy for hackers to run riot with your life.
In order to stay as safe as possible, use a complicated combination of letters, numbers and special characters. To avoid forgetting any of your passwords, create a secure or locked list on sites such as LastPass, NordPass or Dashlane for extra security.
Avoid posting photos that show where you live
We understand that the outside of your home, especially in the autumn and winter months, can look extremely ‘Instagrammable’ – but by posting an image of your property or building you are potentially giving hundreds or thousands of random strangers the chance to discover exactly where you live.
Even if you post a photo of somewhere near your home, people intent on stealing your personal information or tracking you down could be able to work out your address with some clever sleuthing.
This could lead to somebody being able to access your rubbish or recycling bins, which could provide them with valuable information about your personal or even financial details – both online and off. Keep photos like this on your ‘close friends’ list.
Always activate two-factor authentication
Having an extra security step can not only offer you peace of mind that your social media accounts are secure, but can also stop hackers in their tracks.
A two-factor authentication system means that you have to prove your identity if you sign in to your account from an unrecognised browser, meaning that your permission is required before the login goes any further.
Always set this up when you get a new phone or computer. Different kinds of two-step authentication can include fingerprints, texting your mobile number or calling you – all of which help to keep you totally protected.
Use ‘device management’ on TikTok
Device Management offers the user the option to view the different devices that are logged into their TikTok account, along with the ability to remove any that appear suspicious or unrecognisable.
If unusual activity appears, Device Management lets you log out of the device that has acquired your details before any damage is done. This would offer peace of mind to influencers that use TikTok as a primary, or even supplementary source of income.
Keeping your accounts logged in at all times will increase your chances of being hacked, so it is always safer to log out once your session is over. This is easier said than done when it comes to apps on your phone – but it is usually better to be safe than sorry.
TikTok automatically saves your login details, meaning that if you lost your phone, anybody would be able to access your account. In order to avoid this and keep your account as secure as possible, you can remove the ‘save login details’ feature by going into your settings.
