How to improve your security on social media
It's been a long day at the office. All you want to do is put your feet up and have a catch up with a few friends - and with the help of social media, you don't even need to leave the comfort of your bed to do this. It's become one of the most convenient ways to stay in touch. You can message your family and friends from all over the world, and even promote your business. To put it in perspective, according to a report by eMarketer, the number of social media users across the globe is expected to grow to 2.55 billion people by 2017!
It all seems too easy, doesn't it? But these sites often come with strings attached. With the social media audience growing every day, the amount of personal information on our profiles can become a big, red target for identity fraud. According to a report released by the Federal Minister for Justice, around 60 per cent of people have become a victim of cyber crime over their lifetime.
If you want to get ahead of the curve and protect yourself while using your favourite social media network, here's a brief guide to help.
Privacy and security settings
First things first: The fine print. It might seem like a drag but read through and understand the networking site's privacy settings. You can control what cookies are stored on your computer and the type of information the site gathers from your profile. For example, you can change what information other users can view or how they interact with you. Make sure your email address and phone number are stored privately - or avoid listing these details all together.
We've all been guilty of searching our name on a certain search engine, but did you know that it can also pick out your profile on certain platforms? This means anyone can search your page and it'll pop up in the listings. Check whether you have the option to limit this.
Passwords are typically the only defence against cyber crooks accessing your personal information. A rock solid password is totally unique and difficult to guess. Combine numbers, upper case and lower care letters and alpha numeric figures to get the best one - and don't share it around.
Try to stay away from well-known phrases, including your birthday and name. And don't be tempted to use the same password for a few different accounts, even if you've got a memory like a sieve.
Think carefully before posting
Social networking sites are easy to use - that's why we love them! You can share your latest adventures from your smartphone, post an update on the way to work and keep an eye on what's happening in the world at lunch. But what might seem like harmless update could get you a lot more than you bargained for. Sharing your address, birth date and even tidbits of your daily routine can increase the risk of a someone committing fraud with your identity.
Think carefully before sharing any personal photos or information. And remember: Most networks are also set up with Global Positioning System satellite technology (GPS), which lets people see where you are when you post photos, videos and other bits of content. Switch off the geotagging function to get rid of prying eyes.
Advertisement
Pop up ads and banners are all over social media sites. They're actually a big way that these companies make money, and advertisers can even find out what you like and tailor the ads to you using your personal information from your profile and browser history. But if the ad looks too good to be true, it normally is. Avoid clicking on links that connect with outside sites - phishing websites contain nasty software that can steal confidential data from your phone or computer.
Cyber crooks are coming up with craftier tricks to steal your personal details. Luckily, Identity Watch can stop them in their tracks. We can let you know if your information pops up in any suspicious places.