This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Don’t make yourself an easy target
OTP (One Time Passcode)
Most likely, you’ve had to complete the OTP process to access one of your accounts. You know the part where you sign in with username and password, and then it asks you to enter a code based on the one sent to your phone?
It’s a nifty but slowly becoming a less secure way to access your accounts. If you are going to use OTP, be sure to do the following:
Don’t allow your text messages to be seen on your phone’s lock screen.
If you lose access to your phone, while another gains access – at the perfect time – they might be able to get into your account.
Social Engineering
Social engineering is an attack vector that relies heavily on human interaction and often involves manipulating people into breaking normal security procedures and best practices to gain unauthorized access to systems, networks, or physical locations or for financial gain (Source: Tech Target).
Much sensitive information is shared through text messages; all it takes is one skilled social engineer to figure out one of your passwords from a string of text messages.
Keep your text messages off the lock screen.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.