Keeping our accounts and devices secure is vital. We store a lot of information on our devices and through the accounts we use in our daily lives. Through a support document updated just a few days ago, Apple offers us a series of recommendations to protect our personal information.
Preventive measures and common sense against increasingly complex attacks
The first step to securing your accounts is to be aware of the threat posed by social-engineering attacks. These attacks use manipulation and deception to fraudulently obtain confidential information. Scammers often impersonate representatives of trusted companies and use sophisticated tactics to persuade people to provide personal data such as login credentials, security codes, and financial information.
One of the most common methods used in these attacks is phishing, which is generally attempted through emails pretending to be from legitimate sources. However, scammers also use phone calls, messages, and even calendar invitations to try to deceive their targets. Apple emphasizes the importance of being very skeptical of unexpected messages or requests for personal information. If you’re ever in doubt, it’s safer to contact the company directly through official channels, never through the contact information provided in the same email or message.
Account security is of utmost importance to Apple because our account is where we store information related to our other accounts. To enhance your security, Apple insists on never sharing personal data or security information such as passwords or security codes. Additionally, it’s important to enable two-factor authentication and keep your contact information up to date. Apple emphasizes that it will never ask you for this information for technical support.
It’s also important to be cautious about how you make payments. For example, Apple advises not to use Apple gift cards to make payments, and also to learn how to identify legitimate Apple emails related to purchases in the App Store or iTunes Store.
Another very important aspect is software downloading. Both Apple and all security experts regularly lecture us about the great importance of downloading applications only from trusted sources, such as the App Store or directly from developers’ websites. Also, keeping your devices updated, even AirPods. Using secure messaging services, such as iMessage, and, of course, the dangers of following links or opening attachments in suspicious messages.
In line with these recommendations, if you receive a suspicious email, message, or call, Apple urges you to report it. Phishing emails can be forwarded to reportphishing@apple.com, and FaceTime scams can be reported by sending screenshots to reportfacetimefraud@apple.com. Likewise, any email that tries to impersonate someone else, or any other abuses, can be reported to abuse@icloud.com.
Finally, if you ever find unwanted events in your calendar or encounter pop-ups alerting you about questionable security issues, it’s critical not to interact with them. Instead, report them as spam or delete them directly.
Caution is never excessive when it comes to keeping our digital information safe. Apple offers these guidelines to help us assess the risks and know how to act in certain situations, but the rest is up to us. Haste is never helpful. Generally, no situation requires immediate intervention on our part, so thinking twice about what to do, analyzing the situation, and talking to someone else for a second opinion is always a good idea.
