The police give tips on how you can protect yourself against your data being spied on:
1. password security
- Create secure passwords. Use special characters, numbers and upper and lower case. This will help you develop a strong password (example: I'll brush my teeth at 7 after getting up in 2019 too! Becomes: Ipu7ndAmZa2019!).
- Change your password regularly and use different passwords.
Further information on the topic of password security can be found here and on the LKA campaign page "Make your password strong!"
2. data protection/data security
- Carry out regular searches in your own name. This can answer the following questions: What information can be found about me online? Is this information correct? Is information available that should be private?
- Make use of your rights under the General Data Protection Regulation. If providers publish incorrect or outdated information, under certain circumstances you have the right to have the data deleted or to have it corrected.
- Search for stolen passwords: Various free services help to find data leaks. They show whether your account has been affected by security problems in the past.
- Deactivate third-party cookies. Third-party cookies, for example from advertising networks, can collect a lot of information about the user, such as websites visited or certain interests.
- Delete cookies regularly. All browsers offer corresponding functions for this purpose.
- Also check the assignment of rights when installing apps. Check whether you want to allow permanent access to your location, for example.
- Check which web-based setting in your computer system has access to your address book.
- Continue to be careful when receiving emails. Do not open attachments from unknown senders. Deactivate the automatic uploading of images (malicious code or tracking systems may be hidden here).
File a criminal complaint if you have been the victim of manipulation or hacker attacks.
Further information on the topic of cybercrime can be found here.
Further tips under the following links:
- Tips from the State and Federal Police Crime Prevention (ProPK) on secure passwords
- Tips from the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) on secure passwords
- Recommendations from the BSI for those affected by data theft and data leaks
- EU initiative for more security online www.klicksafe.de
