Hey sis and bros! 👬👭 Today, let’s skip the fashion and makeup talk, and dive into something SUPER important but easily overlooked – information security! Don’t let it sound too “techy” or “complicated.” It’s directly relevant to each and every one of us! You think you’re just surfing the internet 🏄♀️? Your privacy might already be “streaking” online! 😱 I’ve learned from painful lessons (almost got scammed a few times, luckily I was cautious). Today, I’m pulling out all my top-secret, one-move solutions to help you get your info security in tip-top shape!
Part 1: 🚨High Alert! Your “Security” Might Just Be “Nakedness”?! Unveiling Common Info Security Pitfalls!
Sisters, let’s do a quick self-check. How many of these points have you fallen for? Don’t be skeptical; those stories of “OMG, how did I get scammed?” or “My bank card was mysteriously drained!” often start with these small details!
- “I have no secrets, so I’m not afraid of exposure!” – WRONG! Your privacy is your “digital gold”!
* How many of you browse the internet with this mindset, thinking, “I’m not a celebrity or a big shot, no one cares about me”? No! No! No! My dear, you are too naive! Everyone’s information is a puzzle piece in “big data” now. Your phone number, address, occupation, hobbies, social connections, spending habits… these seemingly scattered bits of info, once integrated, can accurately paint a picture of you. Think about it: why do some telemarketers know exactly what car you just bought, or even where your child goes to school? That’s the consequence of information leakage! Your information, in the eyes of bad guys, is pure “digital gold” that can be used for targeted scams, aggressive marketing, or even identity theft! So stop thinking “I have nothing to expose”—your “nothing” might be a “treasure” to others! - Setting passwords like “123456” or “birthday”? – Congrats, your bank card could be “guessed” in minutes!
- I admit, I used to be a “lazy user” too, with just a few passwords that I rotated. I liked using my birthday for phone unlock and initials+birthday for app passwords. Until one day, my friend’s Alipay was hacked—precisely because the password was too simple! Bad guys use various public information to “credential stuff” or “brute force” their way in. Especially your public birthday, anniversaries, phone numbers, QQ IDs—using these as passwords is like walking straight into a trap! Your bank money, Alipay balance, and private social media info could be wiped out in minutes because of your “lazy” password! Seriously, girls, this is no joke!
- Clicking “just to see” unknown text/email links? – That one click could cost you everything!
- “Dear, your package has been delivered, click the link for tracking details!” “Congratulations Ms. Zhang, you’ve won XXXX prize, click to claim!” “Your XX bank account has an anomaly, please log in immediately to verify!”… Oh my goodness, do you get several of these texts and emails every day?! I used to be curious too and clicked once or twice by mistake, thankfully nothing happened. But now I know, 99.99% of these links are phishing links or malicious links! The moment you click, your phone might get infected with a Trojan; your bank card number, password, verification code, and even contacts, could be silently stolen! It’s more terrifying than outright theft, because you won’t even realize it’s happening!
- Happily connecting to public Wi-Fi? – While you binge-watch, hackers are “watching” all your privacy!
- Coffee shops, airports, high-speed rail stations… as soon as there’s free Wi-Fi, do you rush to connect? Be careful! Public Wi-Fi is like an “open bathhouse”—all your data (including passwords you enter, bank info, chat content) could be “naked” in the air! Especially on insecure public Wi-Fi, hackers can easily perform “man-in-the-middle attacks” and intercept all your network data! You think you’re saving data, but unknowingly, Gigabytes of your privacy are being monitored in real-time! This isn’t scaremongering; a friend of mine once used online banking on public Wi-Fi and mysteriously lost a large sum of money from his card!
- Reformatting old phones/computers with a “one-click restore”? – Data recovery experts: Heh heh! You underestimate me!
- Got a new phone, how do you deal with the old one? Many people simply “factory reset” and then sell them to recycling agencies. Sisters, this is a HUGE mistake! Simple factory resets cannot completely erase data! Professional data recovery software or technicians can easily recover your “deleted” photos, chat logs, banking app login info, and even private videos in minutes! Think about those “nude photo scandals” or “privacy leaks”—many are caused by improper disposal of old devices! Your private info could be completely stripped and sold for money in a flash! Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps!
- “Showing off” your life on social media? – You’ve already opened your front door, and bad guys have the “key”!
* “Vacationing in Maldives!” “Baby growing up so fast!” “Just got a new car!” “Working overtime until 3 AM, I’m the only one left!”… Is this your daily social media feed? I admit, I love sharing too, but later I realized that oversharing is almost “slow suicide”! Your geographical location, family members, work info, daily routine, and even your car’s license plate are unknowingly exposed to everyone! Bad guys just need to do a little thinking to piece together your life trajectory and personal information, then use it for targeted scams, home invasions, etc.! Every “check-in” of yours could be a “guide” handed to criminals! - Apps constantly asking for permissions, and you “Allow” them all? – They’re quietly “watching” and “listening” to you!
- Download an app, and it immediately asks: Allow access to photos? Allow access to microphone? Allow access to camera? Allow access to location info? … Do you just “Allow” without thinking? Oh my god, why would a photo editing app need microphone access? Why would a flashlight app need contacts access?! These unnecessary permissions are legal “backdoors” for app companies to collect your information! They can secretly turn on your camera to photograph you, your microphone to record your conversations, upload your contacts to build social networks, get your location info to sell to advertisers… The more you think about it, the scarier it gets!
- Discarding delivery slips, receipts carelessly? – Your ID number and address are on them!
- “Ding dong! Your package!” After unpacking, do you just tear off the delivery slip and toss it in the trash? Train tickets, plane tickets, bank statements, shopping receipts… do you just discard these items containing your name, phone, address, ID number, bank account, and even spending records, thinking they’re useless? My dear, these are solid personal privacy details! Some criminals specifically rummage through trash to find this information, then use it for scams, telemarketing, or even identity theft! Your daily habits might be easier to figure out than you think!
- Not uninstalling “uncommon” apps on your phone? – They might be secretly running in the background, stealing data!
- Does everyone have a bunch of “zombie apps” on their phone? You rarely use them, but you can’t bring yourself to delete them. Pay attention! Some apps, even when inactive, can secretly run in the background, uploading your data, consuming your precious mobile data, hogging your phone’s memory, or even listening to your conversations! Be especially wary of unknown small apps! You might think it’s just a space-wasting “junk,” but it could be an “insider” secretly working against you!
- Giving out verification codes casually? – Your bank account could be emptied soon!
- “Hello, I’m customer service, you need to provide a verification code to verify your information.” “Congratulations, you’ve received a benefit, enter the verification code to claim it.” Sisters, I’m telling you, anything that asks you for a “verification code” is 99.9999% a scam! A verification code is the final password to your bank account; giving it to someone else is like handing over your bank card with its PIN! They just need your phone number + verification code to easily transfer your money! I’ve seen this happen in real life: because of one call and one verification code, tens of thousands of yuan vanished instantly! A painful lesson indeed!
- “I’m your boss/relative”? AI deepfakes, hard to tell true from false! – A bit more caution, a lot less loss!
* Technology is so advanced now, AI face-swapping and AI voice synthesis are almost indistinguishable from reality! You get a call from your “boss,” the voice and tone are identical, asking you to transfer money. You see a video call from a “friend,” the face matches, asking for “urgent help.” These are advanced versions of scams using AI high-tech! Especially when it comes to people you know well, your trust level is usually highest, which makes it easiest to fall victim! So, at this point, one cautious thought isn’t enough; you need more! - Personal information being sold? – Endless spam calls, and even targeted scams!
- Sisters, have you ever experienced this: you just registered your info at a property development, or left your phone number on an app, and soon after, you’re bombarded with various promotional and spam calls? Some scammers can even accurately state your name, last purchased item, and address! This is your personal information being sold! Some insiders, scalpers, or even hackers will package and sell your information, and then scammers can use this info to “profile” you and execute targeted scams! It’s truly chilling!
Part 2: ✨One-Shot Solution! My “Hardcore” Information Security Defense Secret! Tried and Tested, Follow Me and You Can’t Go Wrong!
Alright, that “scare tactics” section wasn’t meant to frighten you, but to make you take it seriously! Now for the real stuff! These are my personal, super effective “life-saving” secrets. Follow these steps, and your information security level will jump straight to “S-tier”!
- Regarding Passwords: Strong Passwords + Password Manager + Two-Factor Authentication – This is the Holy Trinity!
- How to set strong passwords? Say goodbye to “123456” and birthdays! Passwords should be at least 12 characters long, preferably 16+! They must include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols (e.g., !@#$%^&*). Moreover, every important app and website should have a different password! Remember this mantra: the more complex, the more irregular, the more unique, the better!
- Password Manager Recommendations! I use Bitwarden, and it’s amazing! Sisters, I know remembering too many passwords is a pain, but with a password manager, it’s a breeze! I highly recommend Bitwarden (free and open-source, super secure!) or paid ones like LastPass and 1Password. They can help you generate super complex passwords and then auto-fill them, so you only need to remember one master password. I’ve used Bitwarden, and it’s incredibly good! It encrypts and stores your passwords, and only you can unlock it with your master password. Plus, it supports multi-device sync, so you can use it on your phone and computer, logging into accounts anytime, anywhere! No more worrying about forgetting passwords or insecure passwords! Using it for a year, my sense of security has skyrocketed!
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)! A MUST-ENABLE! A MUST-ENABLE! A MUST-ENABLE! (Say it three times for emphasis!) What is 2FA? It means after entering your password, you also need a second verification step via a phone verification code, fingerprint, Google Authenticator, etc. Even if your password accidentally leaks, scammers can’t access your account because they don’t have your phone or fingerprint! Almost all banks, Alipay, WeChat, email, and social apps now support 2FA. Take a few minutes to set it up, and your security score will instantly double! I can personally vouch for it; every time I log in and need to enter a verification code, I feel incredibly secure!
- Links & Files: Keep Your Eyes Peeled! If You Don’t Know It, Don’t Click It! If You Don’t Understand It, Don’t Install It!
- How to spot phishing links! You MUST learn this! When you receive a link in a text or email, don’t rush to click!
- Check the domain: Many phishing sites use domains that look very similar to official ones, like “baiIdo.com” instead of “baidu.com” (i and l look alike), or “ali-pay.com.” Look closely; an extra letter, a missing letter, or incorrect letter order is a red flag!
- Check the suffix: Common fake domain suffixes are .top, .xyz, .cc, etc., while official ones are usually .com, .cn, .org, etc.
- Security cues: Normal website addresses have a small padlock icon 🔒 in front of them and start with “https://”. If it’s only “http://” or nothing at all, it’s dangerous!
- SMS content: If the SMS tone is urgent, asking you to act immediately, or mentions “winning a prize,” “tax refund,” “account anomaly,” etc., it’s 99% a scam!
- Official verification: If you’re unsure, directly call the official customer service or log in through the official app to check. NEVER click unknown links! I delete any suspicious links I receive directly, giving scammers no chance!
- Download software from official websites! Reject third-party download sites! Girls, always download apps from your phone’s official app store (App Store, Huawei AppGallery, Xiaomi App Store, etc.) or the app’s official website! Never go to those sketchy third-party download sites; they might offer pirated apps bundled with malware, or directly contain viruses! I once downloaded a “cracked” app for convenience, and heck, my phone kept popping up ads and running data in the background. I had no choice but to reinstall the system! A bloody lesson!
- Don’t casually insert unknown USB drives/CDs! This might sound old-fashioned, but it seriously works! Don’t use USB drives or CDs from unknown sources; they might hide viruses or malicious programs that could infect your computer as soon as you plug them in!
- How to spot phishing links! You MUST learn this! When you receive a link in a text or email, don’t rush to click!
- Network Environment: Public Wi-Fi is a “Poison”!
- Public Wi-Fi hazards exposed! Re-emphasizing, public Wi-Fi is like a “sieve,” especially unencrypted free Wi-Fi. Your data running on it is completely exposed! Hackers can intercept your account passwords, chat logs, and even photos! If you absolutely must use public Wi-Fi, NEVER perform online banking, payment operations, or log into any important accounts!
- Home Wi-Fi security settings! Don’t think your home network is safe!
- Change default password: The first thing to do after buying a router is to change the default administrator password! Factory-set passwords are easy to guess or find online.
- Hide SSID: You can hide your Wi-Fi name (SSID) and manually connect to it. This way, others won’t find your Wi-Fi (though it doesn’t stop real pros, just adds a small hurdle).
- Enable WPA2/WPA3 encryption: These are the most secure wireless encryption methods available. Ensure your router is set to one of these modes.
- Guest Network: If you often have guests, you can set up a separate guest network, isolated from your main network, so guests cannot access your internal devices.
- Old Device Disposal: Physical Destruction Sounds Fun, but Thorough Data Eradication is More Reassuring!
- Factory reset is not enough! I’ve already “scared” you about this! A simple factory reset is like taking a book off a shelf—the ink is still on the pages, and with a little effort, it can be recovered!
- Professional data wiping software! For computer hard drives, you can download professional data wiping tools (like open-source Eraser, or those provided by hard drive manufacturers). They repeatedly overwrite your data with random data, making it impossible to recover, even with professional equipment! When I disposed of my old computer, I used Eraser to wipe it seven times. Watching the progress bar complete gave me immense peace of mind!
- Physical destruction! If your data security requirements are extremely high, or the device is already old and unusable, just physically destroy it! Smash the hard drive! Drill holes! Burn it! Or use professional tools to dismantle the chips! While it sounds a bit brutal, it’s the most thorough and reassuring method! I recently took a hammer to an old hard drive and flattened it. It was incredibly stress-reliving, and 100% secure! 😂
- Social Media: Share Your Life, But Don’t Share Your “Undies”!
- Set privacy settings to highest! WeChat Moments, Weibo, TikTok, Xiaohongshu… go into the settings of these social apps and set your privacy to the highest level! For example, limit Moments visibility to three days or six months; restrict strangers from viewing your profile, disable the “people nearby” feature; turn off location information when posting updates, or avoid displaying precise locations; do not upload sensitive photos (like ID cards, passports, bank cards, flight/train tickets, company access cards, etc.).
- Turn off location services! Emphasizing this again: especially for Moments, check-ins, sharing photos of your kids or pets at home, never include precise location info! Every check-in tells bad guys, “I’m not home” or “My child attends school here”! Isn’t this just giving criminals a “precision strike” opportunity?! I’ve set all my app location permissions to “Allow while using” or simply “Never”!
- Be cautious when sharing photos of your kids! Children’s portrait rights and safety issues must be taken seriously! Avoid oversharing photos of your kids, especially information like their names, schools, specific appearances, or daily routines. Many scammers now use this info to impersonate teachers and scam parents!
- Delivery slips, train tickets, plane tickets: Shred or black out! After opening a package, always black out crucial info like your name, phone number, address, and order number on the delivery slip with a marker, or use a shredder, before tossing it in the trash! Bank statements, utility bills, train tickets, plane tickets, shopping receipts, medical reports… any paper document containing your personal information should have sensitive info destroyed before disposal! I keep a paper shredder at home and shred every piece of paper with personal info—it’s like an obsession, but it gives me peace of mind!
- App Permissions: Give Everything It Asks For? No! Only Give It What’s “Necessary”!
- Regularly check app permissions! Many apps will ask for a lot of permissions when you first use them, and you might just click “Allow.” I recommend going to your phone’s “Settings” – “App Management” – “Permission Management” every month to see which apps have unnecessary permissions. For example, why would a photo editing app need microphone access? Or a flashlight app need contacts access? This is clearly suspicious!
- Grant sensitive permissions (microphone, camera) cautiously! I set all microphone, camera, location, and contacts permissions for apps to “Allow while using” instead of “Always allow.” This way, the app can only access this information when I open it and use relevant features; it automatically stops when I close the app. For apps I absolutely don’t want accessing this information, I choose “Never”!
- Clear background apps! Many apps “reside” in the background, not only consuming battery and data but also potentially uploading data secretly. Regularly enter your phone’s “multi-tasking interface” or “background app management” to close unused or unnecessary background apps.
- Anti-Scam: There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch, Only Traps Falling From the Sky!
- The “Three No’s and One More” principle: Don’t listen, don’t believe, don’t transfer, ask for more verification! When you encounter any suspicious calls, texts, or links that involve money, or ask you for verification codes or bank account numbers, remember these four principles!
- Don’t listen: Don’t believe scammers’ smooth talk.
- Don’t believe: Don’t trust information from any unknown source.
- Don’t transfer: Never transfer money to unfamiliar accounts.
- Ask for more verification: If something seems suspicious, immediately verify through official channels (official customer service hotlines, bank apps, police hotline 911/110)! Or discuss with friends and family; asking one more question never hurts!
- “AI deepfake” calls? Hang up and call back or verify in person! If you get a call from your “boss” asking for money, or a “friend” asking to borrow money, even if the voice and image seem perfectly real, be extra cautious! After hanging up, call back using their usual number (not the one that just called), or find an excuse to video call them for confirmation, or even meet in person! You can also pre-agree on a “secret code” with family and friends that only you know, to verify identities in critical moments.
- The “Three No’s and One More” principle: Don’t listen, don’t believe, don’t transfer, ask for more verification! When you encounter any suspicious calls, texts, or links that involve money, or ask you for verification codes or bank account numbers, remember these four principles!
- Daily Maintenance: Your Phone/Computer is Your “Digital Castle”!
- Good data backup habits! Important photos, work files, chat logs… you must back them up regularly! You can back up to cloud storage (choose reputable, well-encrypted ones like Google Drive, Dropbox, or for extremely private and important files, consider foreign cloud services or enterprise-grade cloud storage with strong encryption) or external hard drives. If your phone breaks or gets lost, at least your data is safe! I personally back up my phone photos to an external hard drive every year-end, and cloud sync runs daily—double protection!
- Antivirus software is essential! On your computer, make sure to install legitimate antivirus and anti-malware software (e.g., Avast, AVG, Kaspersky, Norton, or local reputable ones like 360 Security Guard, Tencent PC Manager), and perform regular full scans! For your phone, you can install well-known mobile security apps. They are your “digital defenders,” helping you block viruses and malicious programs!
- Don’t slack on system updates! Whether it’s your phone’s operating system (iOS/Android), computer system (Windows/macOS), or various apps, if there’s an update notification, as long as network conditions allow and you confirm it’s an official update, update it promptly! Because every update, besides adding new features, primarily “patches” known security vulnerabilities! If these vulnerabilities are exploited by hackers, the consequences can be disastrous!
- Browser privacy settings! In your frequently used browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge, etc.), go into settings and enable “Do Not Track,” “Block third-party cookies,” and other privacy options! Clear browsing history, cache, and cookies regularly. This can effectively reduce the risk of being tracked by advertisers and having your personal information collected!
Part 3: 💡My Hard-Learned Lessons & Sincere Advice!
Sisters, information security truly isn’t a one-and-done thing! It’s like a cat-and-mouse game; scammers’ tactics evolve, and our vigilance must also keep pace!
I remember one time, I almost fell for a scam where “my friend’s QQ was hacked, and they needed me to transfer money.” I’m usually quite vigilant, but for some reason, the tone was incredibly realistic, and they even sent a “transfer screenshot” (which was fake). I almost believed it! Luckily, I finally asked one more question about a private matter that only we both knew, and the other party faltered, making me realize it was a scam! I literally broke out in a cold sweat!
Another time, my phone suddenly received a really strange text message. I opened it, and it was a link saying something like “Your points can be exchanged for cash.” I almost, almost clicked it, but thankfully my phone’s security software popped up a warning: “Malicious URL detected, risk of fraud, blocked for your protection!” At that moment, I wanted to bow down to the security software! Without it, I might have fallen into another trap!
So, sisters, remember! NEVER believe in something for nothing! NEVER make any financial decisions when you’re in a hurry! NEVER tell your personal information, especially verification codes, to anyone other than yourself! Information security is our “lifeline” in the digital age. Protecting it means protecting your assets and yourself!
Start building these small habits now! Spending a few minutes setting them up can save you large sums of money and endless harassment and trouble! Let’s not only be exquisite and trendy girls/boys 🐷 but also clear-headed players with bursting “digital security”! 💪
Hope this helps you all! If you found it useful, like👍, save🌟, and share it with your friends! Let’s help everyone stay away from information security traps! Tell me in the comments, what other information security tips do you know? Or what traps have you fallen into? Let’s share and grow together! Love you all~ 💕