'For online safety, stick to the tried and tested'
Trusted brands and strong passwords are vital for internet security, says expert
A strong password, a trusted brand and adopting the latest security measures when storing personal data in the cloud can save a person's blushes.
Potential weaknesses in saving personal photos and documents in data centres, known as cloud storage, were highlighted last month when hackers leaked celebrities' nude photos that were accessed through the stars' Apple iCloud accounts.
Apple said the hack was a targeted attack on the usernames and passwords of individuals and not a breach of its systems.
As a first defence from hackers, passwords must be more than six digits long, include numbers and punctuation, and should not be information available on one's social networking profile, said Alan Chan, Microsoft's technology officer in Hong Kong.
He recommended using two-factor authentication if available, because the system, which combines a password and an access code sent to a mobile phone, offers greater security.
Chan advised against using public computers and public wireless internet services for internet banking and other sensitive activities. At home, people should encrypt household wireless connections, he said.