Media releases

Wednesday, 15 April 2020

With the Corona lockdown in effect, many South Africans have to make massive adjustments in both their personal and working lives. During this unprecedented time it is more important than ever that we remain vigilant and keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.  As a proudly South African company Cell C’s main goals remain to keep our customers safe and supply them with the best levels of service.

Many of our customers may be experiencing new challenges as they try to continue their work and business lives from home during the lockdown.

Here are Cell C’s recommended tips to staying safe and connected:

Social media

It’s important to make sure your online social media profiles are as secure as possible to avoid scammers and anyone else who wishes to target you. Make sure your password isn’t easy to guess – don’t use the names of loved ones, pets or anything listed in your favourites. Dual-authentication is a good idea – it adds an extra layer of security – and set your privacy settings to ensure no one but your friends can see your profile, friends and content. 

Perhaps most important of all during the lockdown, think before you share information – whether it’s on social media or on any WhatsApp groups you’re a part of it. Check the source of the stories and information you share to make sure you’re not spreading fake news that could cause panic. To report any instances of spreading misinformation of the COVID-19 virus (which is illegal) contact the Fake News Alert Line (067 966 4015); you can also WhatsApp “Hi” to 0600 123 456. If in doubt of the information you have received, you can contact the NICD 0800 029 999; www.sacoronavirus.co.za.

Online Shopping

With the lockdown in effect, a lot of South Africans will be relying on online shopping outlets in order to get their supplies. While having essentials delivered to your door is convenient, there are some pitfalls worth watching out for. 

Make sure you check to see if a site is secure (this will appear in the URL) because if it isn’t it could expose your payment methods to risk. Also make sure that your browser software is completely up-to-date.  

Working from home

Working remotely naturally presents its own set of issues with regards to each business’s requirements, but once again, there are some simple best-practices all of us can observe to stay secure.

Unfortunately since the lockdown began, there have been numerous reports of scammers using the COVID-19  in phishing operations in order to gain access to sensitive information. Beyond ensuring two-step authentication security for your email login, it’s best to be wary about emails from any organisation claiming to assist with Coronavirus news or solutions. If your receive an email that looks suspect, hover of the links and the email address to see if they’re legitimate and, if possible, contact your line manager and IT support; if you’re being targeted, it’s possible your colleagues are as well. Also, report any occurrences like this to the hotline mentioned above. 

Keep all of your software up to date. Whether it’s apps on your phone, the OS of your desktop or the anti-virus software you have installed, it’s important to make sure there are no possible security holes in any software you’re using that scammers can exploit.

Ensure your Wi-Fi connection is password protected, whether it’s a fibre, LTE or smartphone connection. Do not operate on an open network as your traffic could easily be intercepted by nefarious parties.

Remember to call your loved ones

Finally, it’s more important now than ever before to stay in touch with your family and loves ones. With many of us in isolation, the sound of a friendly voice is more vital than many of us realise.

Cell C urges customers to remain vigilant during lockdown. Stay connected, stay informed and stay safe.