Don’t Let Old Accounts Put You at Risk: A Simple Guide to Staying Safe Online
We all sign up for things online, free trials, apps we use once, websites we forget about. Over time, these accounts pile up, and many of them sit unused. But did you know that these forgotten accounts can be a goldmine for cybercriminals?
Why Old Accounts Are Dangerous
- Easy targets: Hackers love old accounts because they often have weak or reused passwords.
- Less protection: Inactive accounts usually don’t have two-factor authentication turned on.
- Hidden info: These accounts might still store personal details or even payment info.
What Hackers Can Do
If someone breaks into one of your old accounts, they might:
- Send spam or scam messages to your contacts.
- Steal your personal info or use your saved cards.
- Sell your account online.
- Use it to sneak into your workplace systems (yes, even old work accounts can be risky!).
Time for a Digital Clean-up!
Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Search your email for phrases like “Welcome,” “Verify your account,” or “Free trial” to find old sign-ups.
- Check your password manager or browser for saved logins you no longer use.
- Delete what you don’t need or at least update the password.
- Turn on two-factor authentication for accounts you keep.
- Delete what you don’t need or at least update the password.
- Turn on two-factor authentication for accounts you keep.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi when logging into sensitive accounts unless you’re using a VPN.
- Watch out for phishing– don’t click on unrecognisable links or rush into actions from scary-sounding messages.
Taking just a few minutes to clean up your digital life can save you a lot of trouble down the road.
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