Cyberattacks have appeared to become an intrinsic part of the invasion of Ukraine. We know how important it is that individuals are able to contact their friends and family at this time and that limitations placed on social media websites and concerns relating to cybersecurity have restricted this contact.

The Cyber Helpline has experience in assisting individuals to secure their personal communications and we have created this blog to share our methods for those that may need it at this time.

Channels of communication

Access to some social media channels is currently restricted in Russia. For consistent and secure communication we recommend using messaging apps that support end-to-end encryption. Sites like WhatsApp and Telegram are frequently being used for this purpose and allow you to chat via voice call and message, whilst also supporting voice messages, media and file sharing.

Be aware that these messaging apps can also be used to share and spread misinformation, make sure to be critical of any news you receive from non-reputable sources.

Security Recommendations

• Two Factor Authentication - Almost all providers have the option to turn on two-factor authentication, this may be called something else such as multi-factor authentication. This is when, as well as your password, you are asked to prove your identity in another form such as a code sent to your phone or a physical key. Wherever possible, turn this on.

• Passwords - make sure you are using a different password for each of your accounts which can’t be easily guessed. You may want to consider the use of a password manager, most smartphones have these built into them. 

• Anti-virus - ensure that any devices you are using have a reputable anti-virus tool installed where possible. Even if you are purchasing a premium anti-virus, ensure it is one that has a free version. As they have more people using them, they are likely to identify new types of malware quicker. 

• Safe clicking - do not click on any links that you aren’t expecting to receive. If you receive links from friends or family that you believe to be suspicious, contact them by another method to confirm it is them who sent the link.

• Lock your profiles - browse your social media privacy settings and set as much as possible to be visible to only your friends or yourself. Some social media sites have added additional security measures for those in Ukraine and Russia, for instance, Facebook have released a tool that allows your profile to be completely locked and have disabled friends lists from being visible. 

• Settings - as a general rule, you should look through all your account settings and see what security and privacy features are available to you and enable any that are practical for you to use.

Other tools

The Ukrainian State Emergency Services have launched a Helpline to provide critical information on how they can stay safe, it can be accessed on WhatsApp here: https://wa.me/380676785917?text=… 

We will continue to update this blog as and when we become aware of any additional information or resources. If you are concerned about communication with friends and family in Ukraine and Russia and want to chat, get in touch with us using our contact us form.