Social media can do wonders for you
as an individual, as well as if you are running your own online business. It
can help you build a loyal following, spread word and awareness about your
brand, and reach out to other like-minded people, as well as customers. And the
best about it is that it’s incredibly easy to do, since everyone you are
looking for is already there. It is estimated that there will about 2.77 billion users on social media in 2019!
However, because the power of
social media is so easy to utilize, most people let their guard down when it
comes to cyber-security, which can come back to haunt them at some point in the
future, in a number of different ways. We use it to keep in touch, plan events,
share our photos and comment on current events. It’s replaced email and phone
calls for a lot of us. As with anything else online, it’s important to be aware
of the risks.
So let us see how you can keep your
social media accounts safe and secure.
Look after your logins
One of the great things about
social media is staying connected wherever you are. However, it’s important to
think about where and how you log in to your accounts.
Use bookmarks or favourites to
access social media sites, or type the URLs into your browser. Don’t access
your accounts through links that someone else has sent you, or links on other
websites. These could lead you to fake sites, allowing attackers to access your
personal details or even install malware on your device.
Make sure your browser or website
doesn’t store or remember your login details on shared or public devices, like
library computers or shared tablets. If you do, and someone else uses that
device, they’ll get access to your social media accounts too. Be cautious of logging in to your
social media accounts using a hotspot or free WiFi — if you’re logging on at a
cafe, for example. These networks are not to be trusted. That means it's possible
that others could see what you're doing when you use them. If you access your social media
accounts through an app on your phone or your tablet, make sure you lock it
when you’re not using it.
Use strong passwords on
your accounts
Using strong and unique passwords
for each of your social media accounts is one of the easiest ways to keep them
secure. Here's what you need to do.
Use a different password for each
of your social media accounts. Don’t use the same password for your Facebook
account as you do for Instagram, for example. That way, if someone gets access
to one of your account passwords, they won’t get easy access to your other
accounts as well.
Make your account passwords long
and strong. And don’t let anybody advice you about the best password because
you have to remember it.
Don’t share your passwords with
anyone — not even your partner, your parents, or your children.
If you’re worried about remembering
all of your passwords, try using a password manager which will store and manage
them for you. That way, you’ll only need to remember the login details for the
password manager itself. The following two hyperlinks may help you:
Update your privacy and
security settings
Get to know the privacy and
security settings for each of your social media accounts — you’ll find them in
your account settings. Think about who you want to see your profile, and what
kind of information you want them to see. Check your settings regularly too.
They’re often updated, so review them from time to time to make sure that
nothing’s changed.
Beware of providing too
much Personal Information
For starters, don’t leave a trail
of breadcrumbs for social media hackers. Whether you are representing yourself
or your company, avoid sharing stuff like your date of birth, places where you
have attended school, as well as names and pictures of your family members.
Those are enough for most identity thieves to break into your
accounts or even to apply for credit cards using your personal info.
Turn on two-factor authentication
Turning on two-factor
authentication (2FA) is another way to protect your social media accounts. For
example, you can use an application on your phone that generates a unique code
each time you log in. It means that even if someone gets access to your account
passwords, if they don’t have your phone to get the code they can’t complete
the log in and get into your accounts. You can usually find the option to turn
on 2FA in your profile settings. Use 2FA to protect your accounts
Be smart about making
friends
Only accept friend invitations from
people that you know in real life. This means someone you know personally, or
someone that you know is a real person, like a celebrity or public figure. Even
the latter may be risky because it may be a fake account. So my policy is only
accept requests from your friends, acquaintances and relatives.
You can identify the authentic
social media profiles of celebrities, public figures and businesses by looking
out for verified accounts. Verified accounts usually have a blue tick next to
the account name to let you know it is an authentic account. These are often
verified because they have a high likelihood of being impersonated.
Remember that if you don't want to
be friends with someone, or let them see what you're posting on social media,
you can block them.
Watch out for scams
Scammers use social media to try to
trick people into giving away their personal details, financial details, or
money. When you’re using your social media accounts:
- Be on the lookout for social engineering and scams on social media. Social engineering is when an attacker gains a person’s trust and tricks them into giving them access or information they shouldn’t have
- Be wary of opening links and attachments in social media. Links asking you to visit another website to claim a free offer or a prize are often scams. These can be used by attackers to get hold of your personal details, or even install malware on your device. So, think before you click!
- Be cautious if a friend on social media asks you strange questions — if they ask for personal details or ask you for money, for example. It could be a scammer who’s asking, not your friend. The scammer may have created an account to impersonate your friend. So, your friend may be staying next door and not stranded in Solomon Island! If it is a scam, you should be able to report the account.
Remember that what goes
online, stays online
When posting to social media it’s a
good idea to think about who could see the things you post other than your
friends and family. For example, potential employers could see what you post
online. Social media provides as much of an opportunity to create a positive
online reputation as it does a negative one. So don’t share anything that could
embarrass you, or someone else you know.
Home Invasions
Careless use of social media can
even expose you to actual attacks and home invasions. Sure, you may be excited
about your vacation, but you are basically telling strangers the exact time
when you are not going to be home, which leaves them with plenty of time to
break in and steal anything valuable.
Unused Social Media
Accounts
If you leave your social media
accounts unattended for too long, you could enable hackers to break into your
account, which could damage your reputation and harm your friends. They can
commit fraud, post inappropriate messages, and perform all sorts of illegal
activities under your name. So if you are not using an account, close it.
Unsecured Mobile
Devices
Accessing your social media
accounts using your mobile phone can be done with just one tap, which is great,
as long as you are the only person using your phone. But what happens if you
lose it or if it gets stolen? You should at least make sure to protect your
phone with a strong password.
So use social media by all means, but do so responsibly.
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