Most computer users frequent social media websites, including Facebook, which along with Twitter, is one of the more popular. Facebook is no stranger to security breaches. Despite this, many users continue to use Facebook and other popular media sites as if it were a personal diary or journal, freely placing confidential information on the Web free for anyone to exploit and use at a moment’s notice.
This makes it incredibly easy for identity thieves to take advantage of someone at the drop of a hat.
The good news is that it is just as easy to protect yourself from unscrupulous users. Here are just a few tips for protecting yourself from hackers and identity thieves when using Facebook or other social media sites on the Internet.
- Avoid sharing any type of personal information including your birthday, address and telephone number. This is inviting trouble. In fact, most identity thieves target individuals who have their personal information including their birth date and address on the Web freely. If you have this information posted, delete it.
- Use the privacy settings available on the social media site. These are here for you to customize your web pages. Take advantage of them. Some will allow you to pick and choose who can see or access your information. These settings will help protect you from hackers or identity thieves.
- Control how apps connect and log into your Facebook pages or other social media web pages. Remember that these apps collect information about you and about your Internet habits. This may provide information to a third party marketing application or user. If you do not want the app to do this, then change its settings. You can set up the app on your web page so that you have to approve it before it collects certain information or before it posts information. That way you are in control of what happens. Don’t let things happen to you, take control of your life.
- Pay attention to odd posts. If they look like they are from friends, but the content is unusual, contact the poster first and make sure the post is actually from friends. A lot of hackers send malware and viruses through posts that make it look like friends posting the information. You can always contact a friend and ask them if they sent it first, before you open it. This will protect you in the long term.
Remember you are the boss of your social media site. Take action to protect yourself and make the most of your web experience.
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