Four habits that keep you safe online, from South Africa's Film and Publication Board
Use different passwords, switch on two-step verification, stop before you click, and install updates. "Cybersecurity is not about being paranoid but about being prepared."
PANM — Staying safe online is now a basic life skill, "just like looking both ways before crossing the street", South Africa's Film and Publication Board (FPB) says. For Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, themed "Don't Make It Easy for Them", it has published four simple habits anyone can adopt, SAnews reports.
1. Treat passwords like toothbrushes
Don't share them, and don't use the same one for email, banking and social media: if a criminal learns one, they will try it everywhere. A password manager app can store them safely.
2. Turn on two-factor authentication
With a code sent to your phone, a stolen password is not enough to get into your account. It takes a few minutes to set up on email and banking apps.
3. Stop before you click
Scam messages, such as a "delayed parcel" text or an email saying your account is locked, can look genuine and carry links designed to steal your details. Check the sender's address, delete anything suspicious, and when in doubt go to the official website directly.
4. Install updates promptly
Updates to phones and laptops often fix security holes. Postponing them leaves your device exposed.
"Cybersecurity is not about being paranoid but about being prepared," the FPB said.
Source: SAnews, 17 October 2026.
