How Do I Protect Myself Against Hackers

How to avoid being an easy target for attackers and prevent your social media, WhatsApp, or bank accounts from being “hacked.” You might think this is something only experts can avoid, but with these simple rules, you can prevent the vast majority of attacks.

1. The Security Key: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA/2FA)

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication whenever available. If a site allows you to activate 2FA, do it. It might not be you who leaks the password—your provider might get breached—but if they don’t have the second factor, they can’t do anything.

Extra Tip: Prefer apps like Authy or similar over SMS messages, which are much easier to intercept.

2. Passwords: Long Over Complicated

A long password is much harder for a computer to crack than a short one with weird symbols.

• Not so good: Pizz4-2026 (Easy to break via brute force).
• Good: i really love pizzas without pineapple (Almost impossible to crack and easy to remember).
• Pro tip: Never reuse passwords. If one falls, they all fall.

3. Password Managers and the “Human Factor”

Use a manager (like Bitwarden) for 90% of your accounts. For your “Crown Jewels” (banks or primary emails), use your memory or the Analog Method: a physical piece of paper with a code only you understand, kept in a safe place at home. Hackers can’t break into your drawer from the internet.

4. Phishing: The Art of Deception

The rule is simple: Don’t click.

• If the bank sends you an SMS saying your account is blocked, don’t touch the link.
• Open your official app or type the URL yourself into the browser.
• Don’t scan QR codes you see on the street or that are sent to you via message; this is a common way for attackers to hijack your WhatsApp or infect your device with malware.
• 99% of successful hacks start with an impulsive click. Always think before you click.

5. Calls and “Spoofing”: Don’t Trust the Number

Is your bank calling? Great. Hang up and call the number on the back of your card yourself. Attackers can spoof the caller ID to make it look like a legitimate number.

• The Family Code: Establish a “secret word” with your family and friends. If you get an emergency call asking for money, that word will be the only way to validate that it’s not a scam or AI-generated audio. If you haven’t set one up, ask questions only your friend or mom could answer.

6. Social Media Common Sense

Don’t give information away to attackers.

• Avoid uploading photos of plane tickets, documents, your full name, or even your keys—they can be cloned.
• Your real-time location? Better upload it once you’ve left the place. Oversharing is the instruction manual for a social engineering attack. You are helping them with everything you post.

7. Software and Piracy: “Just don’t do it”

“Cracked” software or free movie download sites are the favorite nesting grounds for malware. An antivirus, even a free one or Windows Defender, is vital, but it’s not a magic armor if you install the virus yourself.

8. Do Not Share This Code With Anyone

When you receive a text that says “do not share this code with anyone”… well, don’t share it, bro. They might be trying to steal your WhatsApp or install your banking app on another phone. This happens very often: someone calls pretending to be from a delivery service or the bank, asks for the code they just sent you, and then—surprise!—you’re locked out of your account.

“Bonus Tips”

Updates: “Yeah, I know, they’re a pain in the neck”

We often postpone Windows updates (or whatever OS you use) because we’re in a hurry and don’t want to restart. But it’s crucial to stay updated. Most of the time, those updates are patches for security flaws that attackers are already using.

Public Wi-Fi: “Don’t use them for the important stuff”

Connecting to airport or coffee shop Wi-Fi to check your bank account is a bad idea. It’s not safe. Use your mobile data instead or wait until you get to a trusted network. Also, check out my article about VPNs for more on this.

Backups: “It’s like your digital insurance”

If everything else fails and you get hit by Ransomware (the virus that kidnaps your files), a backup is your only way out. You wouldn’t believe how many people ask us for help recovering files deleted by accident or from a broken phone. Try to keep both a cloud backup and a physical copy at home: if the drive fails, you have the cloud; if the cloud fails, you have the drive.

Secure Browsing: Incognito Mode vs. Privacy

Many people believe that “Incognito Mode” makes them invisible to hackers. In reality, it only clears cookies and history from your computer. Basically, it just makes sure your girlfriend doesn’t see which sites you’ve been visiting you dirty rascal. Don’t think for a second that Incognito makes you invisible on the internet. If you want more privacy and fewer ads, try Brave.

Perfect security doesn’t exist, but cybersecurity is about reducing the attack surface. If you follow these steps, you’ll stop being an “easy target” and force attackers to look for someone less prepared.

• Remember that Hackers are the good guys like me ;). “Crackers” are the bad guys. I used the word “hacker” here so most people would understand, but hackers aren’t the villains. Remember that, bro.