Has your Twitter account ever been hacked? No me neither, however Jeremy Corbyn apparently has, today Mr Corbyn’s account began using extemely impolite language…. so we can safely assume that we will shortly be told that his account was hacked. Very embarrassing for the Leader of the Opposition!
So let have a look at 5 essential steps for how to keep your Twitter account secure. (Please take note Labour party members!)
1. Create Strong Passwords
Here are some password tips from Twitter:
Create a password that’s at least 10 characters long
Use a mix of numerals, symbols & upper case & lower case letters; Putting a 1 at the end of a word in the dictionary is NOT secure!
Use a different password for each website & email
Keep your password in a secure place
Use a password management tool to keep passwords secure
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2. Use Login Verification
Don’t just rely on your password!
Twitter provides 2-step verification to make sure only you access your account.
When you log in, Twitter can send a notice to your mobile phone:
You must enter the correct verification code to access your Twitter account. Use your Security settings on Twitter to activate the verification requests.
3. Watch Out for Phishing
Scammers will try to access your private information using tweets, emails & direct messages on Twitter — a practice known as “phishing”.
They may tell you your Twitter account’s been hacked & instruct you to change your password immediately.
They might claim that you’ve won a contest & all you need to do to claim your prize is log in to your Twitter account.
Don’t fall for these tricks! Don’t EVER give out your Twitter password and dont click a link from an email to log into Twitter, always go directly to the site!
I once received an email from someone claiming he worked for Twitter & needed to verify my account. He asked for my password. I didn’t fall for the ruse!
4. Be Wary of 3rd-Party Apps & Websites
Do you plan to use your Twitter account to register for 3rd-party websites or apps?
Be careful!
Doing so gives the apps limited access to your Twitter account.
So beware!… and if you experience anything out of the ordinary, immediately remove the app from your account. And if you stop using a site you have given permission to access your twitter account, always delete their permissions.
5. Protect Your Phone
One of the best ways to keep all your social media accounts secure is simply locking your smartphone with a password.
That way nobody can access your accounts if your phone gets lost or stolen.
