How to prevent your account from being stolen?

Criminals use various methods to compromise customer accounts in order to steal assets or carry out other illegal activities. This article will outline several common techniques used by criminals to hijack accounts, as well as how to prevent them.

1. Hackers directly attack accounts

Hackers compromise customer accounts through various methods, typically including brute-forcing passwords, exploiting leaked username and password combinations, or obtaining login information via social engineering tactics. Once hackers successfully log into an account, they can access the customer's digital assets, initiate transfers, or make withdrawals.

Preventive measures:

1.P2P trading timeliness authentication: Enhance account security through SMS, email, or more secure verification methods (such as Google Authenticator).

2.Use strong passwords: Avoid using simple passwords. It's best to combine letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoid reusing the same password.

3.Regularly change your password: Update your password regularly, especially if you notice any unusual logins.

4.Avoid using public Wi-Fi: Try to avoid using unsecured public networks when making transactions to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.

2. Phishing Attack

Criminals use fake platform websites, emails, text messages, or social media pages to trick customers into entering their account information, passwords, or private keys, thereby stealing customer information.

Preventive measures:

1.Confirm the official website address: Always visit the platform's official website and authenticate the page through official channels. Authenticate if the website/email is from an official source, and it's recommended to avoid clicking links sent via email or SMS.

2.Be cautious of suspicious emails and text messages: Do not click on links in emails easily, especially those that ask for sensitive information.

3. Malicious Trojan software and viruses

Criminals infect customers' computers or mobile devices with malicious software (such as Trojans, viruses, or spyware) to steal sensitive information stored on them. Malware can spread through malicious links, disguising itself as legitimate programs, or by downloading attachments. Once a customer installs and runs the malicious program, criminals can secretly monitor the customer's activities and steal information such as passwords, private keys, or seed phrase. With this information, criminals can remotely access the customer's accounts and steal digital assets.

Preventive measures:

1.Regularly update your operating system and applications: Make sure your system and applications are up to date.

2.Install antivirus software: Install and enable trusted antivirus software, and regularly scan your device.

3.Avoid downloading software from unknown sources: Only download software from official websites or trusted app stores, and avoid downloading software or plugins from unknown sources.

4.Strengthen Google Authenticator protection: It is recommended that you use Google Authenticator and email on separate devices, and disable the "Cloud Sync" feature of Google Authenticator to prevent your two-factor authentication (2FA) data from being leaked.

4. SIM card hijacking

Criminals use social engineering techniques to impersonate customers or customer support staff, requesting mobile carriers to transfer a customer's SIM card information to a device under their control. Once the SIM card is successfully hijacked, criminals can bypass SMS-based 2-factor authentication (2FA) mechanisms and gain control of the customer's accounts. By receiving SMS verification codes or bypassing authentication, criminals can access customers' digital asset accounts and steal digital assets.

Preventive measures:

1. Use a hardware key: Instead of SMS 2-factor authentication, use a hardware key for higher security.

2.Confirm SIM card protection measures with your carrier: Contact your mobile carrier to confirm if there are additional SIM card protection measures, such as setting a PIN code to protect your SIM card.

3.Enable dynamic password (App-based 2FA): Whenever possible, use apps like Google Authenticator or Authy to generate dynamic passwords, and avoid relying solely on SMS verification codes.

5. Social Engineering Attacks

Criminals build trust with customers and exploit their goodwill or unsuspecting mindset by posing as mature individuals, customer support staff, Exchange employees, or other trusted identities to trick customers into revealing sensitive information. They may contact customers through various channels such as phone calls, email, or social media, offering seemingly legitimate help or information, and even impersonate official customer service to request account details, private keys, seed phrases, and other critical data. In some cases, criminals may create urgency through fake bonuses or emergency account security alerts to pressure customers into providing sensitive information. Once these criminals obtain such information, they can quickly access and steal the customer's digital assets.

Preventive measures:

1.Stay alert: Be cautious of any phone calls, emails, or social media messages requesting sensitive information, especially if they demand immediate action.

2.Verify identity: When contacting the platform, verify identities using the contact information provided on the official website to avoid directly responding to suspicious contact requests.

6. How can pirated software lead to account theft?

In the digital age, software has become an indispensable part of our daily lives and work. However, some customers may, for various reasons, download OKX software from unofficial channels. But did you know that such actions could become a tool for hackers to steal your account, leading to account theft and even funds loss.

Disguised as official software, tricking customers into entering account information: Hackers often spread fake installation packages on the network. These programs appear identical to the official versions but are actually embedded with malicious code. When customers run these programs, they may be prompted to enter login information such as account, password, or even the linked email or phone number. If customers enter this information without caution, hackers can directly obtain these sensitive details and take control of your account.

Precautionary measures:

1.Download software only from official sources: Be sure to obtain software from the official website or official app stores (such as Google Play or the App Store) and avoid downloading suspicious installation packages from unknown websites or forums.

2. Be cautious of unusual login pages: If any software or website asks you to enter your account password, make sure to verify its source to avoid falling into a phishing page.

3.Regularly check device security: Install reliable security software, scan your system regularly, and prevent malware from running in the background.