Your password is not enough: activate two-factor authentication!
Original article publication date: 01/10/2020
October marks the launch of European Cybersecurity Month. The Centre for CyberSecurity Belgium and the Cyber Security Coalition are launching a new awareness campaign. Thisyear's theme: securing your accounts. Let's take stock with Commissioner Olivier Bogaert of the Computer Crime Unit of the Federal Police
Olivier Bogaert, awareness remains the keyword in terms of cybersecurity, hence the importance of continuing this campaign which isalready in its 6th edition?
Yes, and you can see the importance of prevention in the latest surveys on passwords. Too many users still opt for the easy way out, for example by choosing to use their first name, a date of birth or a simple combination of characters such as 1234. Passwords are the keysto your virtual home and lead to the vault...
Too often, users also lack caution in making certain personal information public...
Filling out a profile on the internet can offer a lot of information to the hacker, including the answer to a secret question to change a password. I also advise you to be careful about what you publish on professional networks such as LinkedIn. Stating its function can attract attention and result in targeted messages from hackers. They will then be able to trick you more easily and introduce spyware into your computer...
The risk of intrusion is all the more marked when teleworking...
Indeed, because workers evolve in an environment presenting other risks. For my part, I always advise separating sessions/computers between private and professional use. By using the samedevices, there is a risk of dataleakage because the information from the different applications will combine.
To deal with hacking, the Cyber Security Center invites us to activate "two-factor authentication", which it is focusing on. What is it about?
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a method that protects the user. Two pieces of proof of identity are required to access an account: the password and a one-time code. This will be transmitted by SMS, phone call, token or an application such as "Authenticator". With two-factor authentication, the hacker will need to have more information than just access to your computer. And in the event of an intrusion, users will be directly notified.
Throughout the campaign this October, two-factor authentication will be highlighted with radio spots and videos on social media.
How do I choose a good password?
- Use lowercase and uppercase letters;
- Add numbers and use a symbol as an exclamation mark;
- Make sure it is at least ten characters long;
- Choose a sentence and stick the words together or opt for the first letters of each one.
