Since the creation of armies, internet safety has been a big concern for most individuals involved. Now more than ever, we need to be able to keep ourselves, and army troops, safe.
Since the creation and development of the internet, there have been trends of people exposing their own information to people all over the world. Of course, this wasn’t the only thing that happened and it isn’t the only problem that people have to be aware of. However, a string of other problems, which involves the exposure of account details or private information, can also happen if the right precautions aren’t taken.
With that said, let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can ensure your and your fellow community members’ safety. We will also look at what to avoid and how to recognize scams.
Enable 2-factor-authentication
There are many different ways that people hack into accounts, whether it be through scam links or trying different emails and passwords to see what works. 2-FA adds an additional layer of security. To protect your account you’ll have to input your phone number as a method of authentication. When logging in, you can either have a code sent to your phone or have a code sent through the Google Authenticator app.
To enable it, go to Settings > My Account > Two-Factor Authentication.
From here you’ll need to download Google Authenticator to be able to enable 2-FA. If you are unable to download Google Authenticator then Authy is another app that will allow you to authenticate your number/account. After doing this, you will be able to enable SMS (mobile phone message) authentication. This means that when you log in, you’ll be able to choose to get a message through your phone. This allows you that extra bit of security that you need for the protection of your information and details. This is the easiest but most effective way of reinforcing safety.
Keep Your Private Information Private
Every day, we talk to people from all over the world. Some people we have known for years, some for a less amount of time. However, a general mistake that people make is sharing personal information like the town they live in or what their Facebook is. Sharing information, even just your name makes it easier for people to try and track down the person behind the screen. While all of this may seem ludicrous, it is true. Even if you say something and delete it, it may well be still accessible if someone was able to take a picture of it. It may seem innocent to share a picture of yourself or by telling someone what your Instagram is. However, people can use this information and other information that they have gathered to obtain your location and other details about you.
Furthermore, it is also good to have a secondary email for things that are not related to your personal life. Armies are just one example of when having a secondary email can be useful. This email should NOT contain your real name or anything associated with you. You may then use this email when you want access to write posts on your army’s website or if you apply to be a reporter. Before viewing Google documents from people either within the army community or others outside of your real life, make sure you are not signed in to your real email address before viewing.
Make sure that you are not clicking on any suspicious emails or the links that may come with them. Some will try to impersonate a real company and send you scam links. So, whether it be with your real or Discord email, don’t click on the links! Only trust those from trusted sources.
Be Aware of Free Nitro Scams
Whilst we all would love to have nitro without paying for it, the likelihood of it happening is slim. Unless your friend is being rather charitable or your server is giving away free nitro in a giveaway then it’s not likely that you’ll get it for free. Some people may ask you to click a link or to scan a QR code but DO NOT do this.
Below is a picture of a FAKE nitro link. Always be aware of the spelling of Discord when looking out for nitro scams. You may be able to trust friends, however, they could also get hacked so always be alert.
An example of a FAKE nitro link
People aren’t the only things that can send scam links either. Sometimes you may see bots claiming that you’ve earned some free nitro or that Discord is giving it away. However, do not trust these either. Clicking these links or scanning QR codes to try and gain free nitro can expose your information. This allows them to hack into your Discord account. It may also allow them to get private details like your email or password.
Discord QR code scam
Be Careful of Malicious Links
On Discord, many links are sent around, whether it be for servers, websites, or games. However, don’t just click on links that people sent you unless you know you can trust them. For example, you would click on the CPA Battleground link. However, if someone asks you to “test” their game, sending you a suspicious link that you don’t know or recognize, it could be malicious. Not all malicious link senders will be robotic or obvious, but they do normally tread along similar lines. One example would be when a person says they’re creating a new game and would like you to test it for them, before sending you a link.
Another example of a suspicious link/sender
The same can be said for files that are sent to you. These may come in the form of games, downloadable files, or even links to “social media”. DO NOT click on random links, if you don’t know the person OR don’t trust the file they’re sending, don’t open it. Even close friends can be hacked or could send malicious links so always be alert. Look at what they’re saying, look at the name of the link in case they have tried to make a fake link look real.
Doing these things can help you avoid people from hacking into your account and stealing your information. For many Discord nitro links, people replace the i in Discord with a lowercase L so that it looks like: dlscord.gg. Or they could try to make you click on a link to claim it. Malicious links files can contain malware. Malware is short for malicious software. This means that it could go infiltrate your computer without you knowing and hack into your personal files, obtaining your personal information, and passwords. It could even hack your network and other connected devices.
Another example of a malicious file
Protect your passwords
Protecting your passwords means that you shouldn’t make your passwords easy to guess. DO NOT use common patterns like 123 or qwerty in your passwords. Password security starts with creating a “strong” password. Whilst creating a “strong” password can seem annoying to do, it will protect you. Many will ask “what is a strong password?”. A strong password contains:
- A combination of numbers, letters, and symbols. Symbols can come in the form of @#*!.
- They should be significantly different from other passwords you’ve used in the past
- Don’t use your birthday or dates/names that are associated with people close to you
- A “strong” password generally consists of 12 characters, however, this is only a guide. You can use less or more but it is advisable that you make it hard to guess
- Don’t use common patterns like ABC1234
- Use multiple passwords for different websites. If you use the same password for everything, hackers will easily be able to access all of the accounts you have had. This may then allow them to find your details and they could even use your credit card if your information has been used on any of their accounts
Once you have created a strong password, DO NOT share it with anyone. If you can’t remember more than one password, it’s recommended that you use a password manager that protects all of your passwords. However, some people may be wary of these methods so it can also be acceptable to write your passwords down. However, you must make sure they are not in an exposed place. Make sure that no-one will be able to get access to them other than you. However, it is not advisable to do this on your computer.
To combat a bad memory but to stop yourself from writing down your passwords, you may want to consider writing hints. For example, if your password was your dog name with your favourite number and common symbol, then you’d write that down without being specific. If your password or account is ever compromised, make sure you change your password immediately.
If Possible Use An Anti-Virus
To make sure your computer is protected, use an antivirus and do regular scans of your computer to make sure that you do not have a virus. This seems like basic knowledge but it is something that many people forget to do. Most computers have an antivirus or software installed to help. This may come in the form of Windows Security/Defender, AVG others. However, if your device doesn’t have some type of software/application installed then you should download one. One of the most-recommended, free, anti-virus applications is Avast. However, other options are available. Other anti-virus options are McAfee, AVG, and Avira.
These are just some of the things to watch out for and some of the ways to stay safe. Make sure you are passing this information on to those who may need the information to help protect themselves. If you’re unsure regarding anything on the web, please do not hesitate to ask.
More Information
Mchappy is interning at Club Penguin Armies as the Chief Executive Producer. Max held him at gunpoint to finish his biography.