How to protect your personal data online

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In order to protect the confidentiality of communications, which is a fundamental individual right, the Communications Confidentiality Authority has issued regulations that require the introduction of security measures by the companies of electronic communications service providers and conducts controls for their proper implementation.

In the context of the celebration of the International Safer Internet Day (February 8), ADAE informs the digital users about the measures they should apply for a safe internet browsing and for the protection of the privacy of their communications. One of the Authority’s information activities is the collection of information to minimize exposure to cyber threats, which have been posted on its website. Also, digital users can visit the website of the Authority and evaluate their knowledge on issues of security and privacy of electronic communications, by completing the relevant questionnaire, as well as downloading the relevant brochure of ADAE.

Indicatively, some of the measures to avoid cyber risks, which are contained in the ADAE newsletter are:

Privacy measures when accessing the Internet

• Select and install on your computer a malware (antivirus) program of a well-known and trusted company.
• Enable the automatic update feature to protect your computer from the latest malware. Some programs also support anti-spyware features.
• Install a firewall on your computer. The firewall controls the communication to and from your personal computer, allowing or blocking certain types of traffic to prevent the spread of viruses and unwanted applications. Some versions of operating systems (eg WindowsXP / SP2) have a built-in personal firewall.
• Make regular updates to Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Safari, etc.). It is recommended that you enable auto-update and update when you receive a notification.
• Use a strong password with letters, symbols and numbers, different for each application you maintain an account with. Avoid using passwords that are easy to memorize (such as dates, known terms, letter sequences, or first names). A suggested solution for creating a password is to choose to use a combination of lowercase – uppercase, letters – numbers, with at least 8 digits.
• Keep your passwords secret and change them at regular intervals (at least once every 6 months).
• Always enable the built-in protection features of your browser, such as blocking pop-ups, managing cookies, etc.
• Pay attention to signs that your computer may be infected with a virus, such as the following:
o Your system suddenly becomes noticeably slower to boot and / or run
o It takes longer to open your files than usual
o some files appear corrupted or do not load
o messages from your antivirus program or other unusual messages are displayed
• Use programs only from trusted sources. Use programs found on the Internet should only be done when you are sure of the source.
• Avoid viewing unknown files, messages, or links. Before opening a file, enable the virus scanning filter.
• Make sure you are logged out of your account on an online service website (eg online banking) through the log out link before you leave.
• Avoid enabling password reminders when using browsers, especially when accessing the Internet from shared computers.
• Verify that you are using a secure connection when sending sensitive personal information over the World Wide Web. This is shown by the padlock lock icon, and the address you are linking to should start with https: // instead of http.
• If you connect to the Internet from a public network (internet café, hotels, etc.), do not use or transmit your personal information. Avoid visiting pages where you have to use your personal passwords, especially if the exchange of information is not encrypted (eg https). These networks may not be secure and may interfere with your personal data.
• If you use a device accessed by the Internet, to which third parties also have access, it is recommended that you delete your browsing history and cookies. You can also turn off saving your browsing history through your browser settings.

Measures to protect the confidentiality of electronic mail

If your email account has recently been compromised or accessed by a third party, you should change your password immediately.
• Never use your account password to access other sites.
• Do not open attachments from unknown third parties or untrusted sources. When receiving an email, even from seemingly trusted sources (such as banks), look carefully at its source before opening a link to it, as it may lead you to a website that, while looking the same as the legitimate one, it is fake.
• Do not send your passwords via email. Legitimate websites that offer online services will never ask you to send your passwords via email.
• Keep track of email account activity, such as your account links, password changes, or information used to retrieve your passwords (add an alternate email address or phone number). If you notice any suspicious indications, you should change your password immediately.
• Monitor the sending and receiving of emails. If you notice that many messages in your account cannot be found, or if you notice that unknown messages are being sent from your account, change your password immediately.
• Verify that your mail is not being forwarded to an address that you have not specified. If you find an unwanted promotion, remove it immediately.
• If possible, enable the two step verification process to access your account (eg by sending a special one-time password to your mobile phone).
• Do not forget to log out of your account, especially if you are logged in from a shared computer (eg a library or an Internet cafe). Keep in mind that you may still be logged in, even after you close your browser.
• Encrypt messages or attachments that contain confidential information.

Privacy measures for wireless internet access

Enable encryption on your wireless router. Prefer WPA encryption or even better WPA2. Use strong passwords for the encryption key, which you change frequently. You change the network name (SSID), giving your own name, different from the one set by the manufacturer.

• Set up the wireless network to accept connections only from specific computers, tablets, and cell phones (MAC address filtering).
• Change the user name and security code for managing the wireless router from the value set by the manufacturer (username and password admin). In addition, you change the password you set at regular intervals.
• Disable remote management access to your router if this access is not already disabled by the manufacturer.
• Change the setting to prevent the management of your router over a wireless connection.
• You can check your wireless router for which devices are connected or requesting a connection to it. If you notice connections from unknown devices, change your passwords immediately.
• Turn off the wireless network when not in use.

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