The best way to keep people from accessing your information is by being vigilant and building good browsing habits. Below are recommended ways to protect you from identity theft:
1. Always double check the URL link of the website you are visiting.
Our official domains are only https://coins.ph/ and https://pro.coins.ph
Any deviation from the format above is a phishing activity to deceive persons into giving their Coins.ph user credentials. Fraudulent websites are usually found in phishing emails that pose as a legitimate company.
Do not log in to websites that resemble, but differ from the official Coins.ph website listed above.
Our official Customer Support email is only help@coins.ph. You can also check for emails of our official functions through the Coins Verify page. Refer to this article to know more about protecting yourself from phishing sites and emails.
2. Do not provide your login credentials to anyone
Providing sensitive, personal information (like your password and verification code for logging in) to anyone, especially over the phone or email may give cybercriminals easy access to your online accounts or computer.
Your Coins.ph account credentials together with the verification codes sent to your email and/or mobile phone number, or codes generated by your Two- factor authentication (2FA) should never be shared with anyone under any circumstances, as these can be used to access your account and initiate transactions.
3. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is another security protocol that provides an added layer of security to your account, making it very secure. In a nutshell, after you enter your password, you’ll be asked to provide a randomly generated code before you access your Coins.ph account. The code refreshes every few seconds, so it’s very difficult for someone to guess it given the time.
For this, you’ll need to use a special app like Authy or Google Authenticator. Your Coins.ph account can then be equipped for 2FA.
To learn more about two-factor authentication and how to enable it on your Coins.ph account, visit our section on 2FA where we’ve provided everything you need to know!
4. Use a strong MPIN
It’s tempting to use the same password over and over again. We all have multiple accounts on different websites, and it’s hard to keep track. But the first step in keeping other people from accessing your Coins.ph account is by making a good MPIN.
Follow these tips for a good password:
- Memorable – Use unique combinations that are unforgettable and easy to recall.
- Randomized – Be as random as possible. Avoid using predictable passwords such as significant words, names, or dates.
MPIN Combinations to avoid
- Same digits (e.g. 0000, 1111)
- Incremental or decremental consecutive digits (e.g. 1234, 9876)
- Consecutive numbers (forward or reversed sequence) from your mobile number
- Derived from your birthdate
- MPIN previously used
- MPIN already used with another website or service
Learn more about improving your account’s security in our dedicated Help Center section.
Use a Password Manager
If you don’t want to memorize your passwords, you can use a password manager such as 1Password. It’s a very powerful and secure password manager. You can store your passwords here and it will remember them for you. 1Password can also generate more secure passwords for you.
It’s also very easy to learn. Just download the software on your browser, create an account, and start storing your passwords.
An easy way to ensure that your passwords are strong is to use a password generation and management service like Lastpass or 1Password.
5. Do not store all of your Virtual Assets in a single address
Don't put all your eggs in one basket!
Generally, you can only have one set of wallet addresses on a wallet-providing platform. However, there's no limit to the number of wallet-providing platforms a person can use. It's wise to spread out your Digital Currency in small amounts across various wallet providers. This way, in case the security of one of them gets breached, your losses will be kept to a minimum.
It's a good practice to create a new wallet address whenever you ask someone to send you Bitcoin, and then to immediately transfer the Bitcoin out of that address into another undisclosed address (meaning you are the only one who knows that address).
You can start with at least three addresses:
- a "public" wallet address for receiving Bitcoin (what you give to someone sending you Bitcoin)
- another public wallet address for sending Bitcoin (from where you transfer out Bitcoin to another person's wallet)
- one "secret" address for keeping your savings--create new savings wallets as the amount of Bitcoin you own increases
For more tips on keeping your Bitcoin wallet secure, we highly suggest reading this CoinDesk article on security tips for beginners.
6. Avoid installing untrusted software and browser plugins on your computer.
Make sure to Install and/or maintain the latest anti-virus or anti-malware software on your devices. Run these applications on your computers and devices regularly.