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Safety Tips for Social Networking
Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter can be a great way to connect with friends. But there are some social networking safety tips you should always keep in mind.
Manage your privacy settings. Learn about and use the privacy and security settings on your social networking sites. They help you control who sees what you post and manage your online experience in a positive way. You'll find some information about Facebook privacy settings at the bottom of this webpage.
Remember: once posted, always posted. Protect your reputation on social networks. What you post online stays online. Think twice before posting pictures you wouldn't want your parents or future employers to see. Recentresearch found that 70% of job recruiters rejected candidates based on information they found online.
Build a positive online reputation. Recent research also found that recruiters respond to a strong, positive personal brand online. So demonstrate your mastery of the environment and showcase your talents.
Keep personal info personal. Be careful how much personal info you provide on social networking sites. The more information you post, the easier it may be for someone to use that information to steal your identity, access your data, or commit other crimes such as stalking.
Protect your computer. Security start with protecting your computer. Install Antivirus software. Keep your operating system, web browser, and other software current. You can use the Pitt Software Update Service to automatically download the latest security updates for Windows.
Know what action to take. If someone is harassing or threatening you, remove them from your friends list, block them, and report them to the site administrator.
Use strong passwords. Make sure that your password is at least eight characters long and consists of some combination of letters, numbers, and special characters [for example, +, @, #, or $].
Be cautious on social networking sites. Even links that look they come from friends can sometimes contain harmful software or be part of a phishing attack. If you are at all suspicious, don't click it. Contact your friend to verify the validity of the link first.
Facebook Privacy Settings
Make sure you know how to access and use Facebook's privacy settings. Log in to Facebook, click the Settings menu.
Select Privacy to view and edit who can see your photos, activity and information.
Select Apps and Websites to control access to your Facebook account by applications and websites
Select Blocking to block specific users or application invitations.
What Can Hackers Find Out About You on Social Media?
Your personal information is safest when you don’t share it on social media.
Social media will always be a trade-off between connection and protection.
The more you share on social media, the more information about your life can be stolen.
It’s hard to strike a balance. But there are three areas where you can make small changes to protect your personal information on social media: sharing, security, and surroundings.
12 Tips to Safeguard Your Privacy on Social Media
We all publish some amount of private information on social media. Knowing what kind of personal data cybercriminals can use will help you understand what you shouldn’t post.
1. Don’t Share Your Live Location or Daily Routines
Sharing photos while you’re on vacation can be fun, but those photos immediately alert everyone that you’re away from home. Instead, collect photos on the trip and only share once you’re back.
Also, avoid posting about routines in your daily life. A story about your “daily 6 a.m. workout” tells stalkers where they can find you every morning and lets thieves know when you’re away.
Related: 10 Airbnb Scams That Will Ruin Your Next Vacation →
2. Don’t Share Identification Numbers
You might not think so, but your identity can be stolen with just your ID.
Identification and financial information like your Social security number [SSN], driver’s license number, bank account numbers, and passport number should never make it to a social media site. These can be used immediately for identity theft and more. [As an added warning, it's not always possible to change your Social Security number – even after identity theft.]
But when we’re first-time drivers, proud world travelers, and excited entrepreneurs, it’s easy to think of our license, passport, or first paycheck as something to show off on social media. But resist the urge to flaunt your success. If you absolutely need to post it on social media,
make sure none of your personally identifying numbers or information is legible.
3. Share Less in the “About” Section
Social media platforms let you share all kinds of personal information online. But all this information just adds to your online footprint. Just because a field is offered doesn’t mean you need to fill it in.
Consider leaving information blank on your social media profile or only giving a broad answer. For example, enter the industry you’re in instead of a specific employer. Even seemingly harmless information like your maiden name or hometown can help hackers crack your security questions.
4. Only Accept Connection Requests From People You Know
You’ve heard it plenty of times, but it’s still true: only accept followers and friend requests from people you know. If you’re building a public persona, consider creating a separate
account.
Even if you’re careful about what you post, friends can see what others post about you. With a little deduction, any of your friends can quickly find your date of birth and mine your friends list for information about you.
Plus, the people behind the fake accounts may use them to organize scams, defraud your friends, and even run blackmail campaigns.
5. Create Strong, Unique Passwords
Passwords are our first, and sometimes only, line of defense against
hackers. It pays to make them as secure as possible.
First, follow the basics. Don’t use “password,” your username, or easy-to-find data like your anniversary. Not only are these insecure, but in some instances, they expose personal details—like your birthday or phone number—along with the password.
Generally speaking, a
long password is a strong password. Every password should have a minimum of 12 characters—ideally, closer to 16. Every extra character makes it an order of magnitude harder to crack your password.
Your password should also be unique to every site. If one login is ever leaked, every account with that password is at risk. For the same reason, never recycle passwords [like using your old Twitter password as your new Snapchat password].
This method was used on some of the
highest-profile hacked celebrities, including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, so it can happen to you.
It’s hard to keep track of dozens of secure, different passwords. Consider using a password manager to track them securely.
💡 Related: How To Recover a Hacked Instagram Account -->6. Use Two-Factor Authentication [Avoid SMS]
Two-factor authentication is a
security measure that requires a one-time code, either from an app on your phone or a text message, in addition to your password. Today, most major social media accounts include this feature.
Since these codes are only valid for a few minutes, they’re more secure. But they’re even stronger, since they require whoever’s trying to log in to have a password and the right device—unlikely in most hacking scenarios.
Pro tip: use an authenticator app like Google or Microsoft, instead of SMS for an extra layer of security.
7. Tighten Your Profile's Privacy Settings
It’s easy to leave the default privacy settings on your account. They might be fine if you never share sensitive information, but you should at least review the choices rather than hope for the best.
In just fifteen minutes, you can
quickly review the account information for the social media sites you use regularly like Facebook, Twitter,
LinkedIn, and Instagram. Choose what different social media user groups—like your friends, friends of friends, or unregistered users—can see.
And remember, the settings go beyond
just posts. On most sites, basic profile data, comments to public posts, and online activity at third-party sites [like comments or quizzes] are shared publicly.
Decide what you want and don’t want to share.
Related: The 10 Biggest Instagram Scams Happening Right Now →
8. Force Unrecognized Devices and Sessions to Logout
Many social networking
sites, including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, let you see active account logins worldwide.
If you’ve never done this, make sure you recognize all of the logins—for example, on your own laptop and phone. If you don’t recognize them, you can sign out of all open sessions. You’ll need to sign back in later, but it’s worth the extra effort.
Even if you know how to use social media responsibly, it’s not just the network itself where you should pay attention. Your accounts are only as secure as your devices and the precautions you take when you’re not logged in.
9. Watch Your Back When Out in Public
You’re at the local coffee shop and want to browse Instagram. What’s the safest way to do it?
First off, there's a type of identity theft attack called shoulder surfing, where wandering eyes lurk over your shoulder as you're typing in your password to any social media account. Beware of prying eyes anytime you're using your mobile device to sign-in to any online accounts in public.
Secondly, avoid public Wi-Fi, as it’s surprisingly easy for hackers to intercept your connection and collect all the data. A better option is to use a private hotspot from your phone.
If you must use Wi-Fi, consider a VPN, which scrambles the data you send
and makes your location untraceable. For any site—but especially when logging in or entering credit card data—always check for an HTTPS connection [often represented by a green padlock symbol].
10. Pay Careful Attention to Security Alert Emails
Email can be one of the best safeguards for your social media accounts.
Notifications of failed login attempts or
changes to your password could be a warning sign of a hacking attempt. Add two-factor authentication if you haven’t already, and consider changing your password.
But you should pay attention to the emails themselves, as they’re also common phishing scams.
Phishing uses pretend authority to trick you into sharing personal data. Let’s say you get a warning email with a button or QR code
to log in to Instagram. The button takes you to a site that looks exactly like the Instagram login page—but when you type in your password, it goes straight to a hacker.
To protect yourself from phishing, always verify that emails are from who they claim to be from. Misspelled sender names [like “Instagram”] are easy to fake, so look at the email address. It should come
from the official website, like “.”
If you’re still unsure, the safest option would be to visit Instagram.com directly to resolve any issues.
11. Delete Expired Social Media Accounts
We all have online accounts we never use—will you or anyone you know even notice if you delete your old MySpace site?
Every social networking site you keep open is an extra window of vulnerability. Delete unused accounts and think carefully before signing
up for new accounts.
If you’re a member of social sites you don’t use often but don’t want to delete, make sure you have a secure password and two-factor authentication for them. You can also improve security by logging out of the site on your devices and deleting the app from your phone. It’s one less vulnerability if someone accesses your device.
12. Don't Ignore Software Updates
Some social media risks work because they exploit bugs in your computer, phone, or tablet.
You can protect yourself from these types of cyber attacks by updating to the most recent software, which has stronger code and fewer bugs.
Update your operating system, like macOS or Windows, as well as your browser, like Chrome or Safari.
For additional protection, you can also use antivirus and anti-malware software.
Related: Aura vs. LifeLock: Which identity theft protection service is best in 2022?