This is our fifth information security bulletin, all about keeping your Quotemonster account secure and keeping safe online.
As a valued user of quotemonster.co.nz, we want to ensure that your personal information remains secure, and your privacy is safeguarded. With cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated, it’s crucial to adopt best practices to enhance your online security. Here are some friendly reminders and recommendations to help you stay protected:
- Create a strong and unique password: Make sure your password is at least eight characters long and includes a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid common phrases, predictable patterns, or personally identifiable information. If you have trouble remembering them, try using a password manager, such as LastPass.
- Use a different password from your other accounts. Keep everything separate so that if one account is compromised your attackers do not gain access to them all.
- Never use your name, username, or part of your email address as your password.
- Regularly update your password: We recommend changing your password periodically, ideally every three to six months. Regularly updating your password helps protect against potential breaches and unauthorized access to your account.
- Familiarise yourself with two-factor authentication (2FA) – we are glad you are all using 2FA to log onto our site. This additional layer of security significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access by requiring a second verification step, usually through a code sent to your email or your preferred authenticator app. Ensuring you are familiar with the process means you will not be frustrated when asked for a code from your app – and you can easily find it and log on.
- Do not share logins: While it may be tempting to share your login credentials with trusted individuals, it’s important to remember that doing so compromises your security. Encourage each person who needs access to create their own account, ensuring accountability and preventing potential misuse.
- Stay vigilant against phishing attempts: Cybercriminals often employ phishing techniques to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. Be cautious of emails or messages requesting personal details. Avoid clicking on unfamiliar links and verify the authenticity of any communication before sharing any information.
Some notes on good general online safety:
- Keep your devices and software up to date: Regularly update your operating system, web browsers, antivirus software, and other applications to ensure you have the latest security patches and features. These updates often contain critical fixes that address known system vulnerabilities. Also, having a modern computer (less than five years old) running up to date software, will greatly enhance your experience of using the site – its quicker, as well as more secure.
- Be mindful of public Wi-Fi networks: When accessing our service on the go, exercise caution when using public Wi-Fi networks. Public networks may lack proper encryption, making your data vulnerable to interception. Whenever possible, connect to secure and trusted networks or use a virtual private network (VPN) for added protection.
Remember, the security of your personal information is our priority. Adopting these proactive measures will significantly contribute to safeguarding your privacy. If you ever have any questions or concerns regarding the security of our service, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team.
Want to know more?
We are here to help! You can email us to ask for copies of past security bulletins. You can also review our outsource provider statement at the bottom right-hand corner of every page on the site at www.quotemonster.co.nz. More information about relevant certifications, policies, and procedures will be shared in future information security bulletins. We recommend you keep these with other compliance documents.
Please contact us on 09 480 6071 or at [email protected] if you have any concerns or questions.
ISB 05-202305
