- Don't use open Wi-Fi.
- Change passwords frequently.
- Use passwords that are impossible to remember.
- Don't scan QR codes.
- Don't use publicly accessible USB chargers.
- Turn off Bluetooth and NFC.
- Don't share your BankID with others.
Here, you’ll get the list, the explanation, and user-friendly advice that might actually work better.
This presentation will likely elicit laughter and head-shaking from many, but it will also foster a better dialogue about what works, and what doesn't, for the average person. Perhaps even more importantly, it aims to encourage security professionals and IT departments to work with users, rather than against them.
Per Thorsheim began his career at TV 2 AS in 1994, teaching all employees how to use the internet and creating their first intranet and websites. Since then, he has worked on security and privacy for several companies and served as Chief Security Officer for the hotel chain Nordic Choice Hotels and for BankID. He has personally created, and witnessed even more, security rules that fail to work, are obsolete, and in practice actually compromise security.
In the autumn of 2025, he was among the signatories of an open letter addressed to the public, employers, journalists, and lawmakers titled "Stop Hacklore!" The letter aims to debunk a number of myths that persist in the media and within the recommendations and security policies of many organizations, myths we want to put to rest.
