Just about all of us have social media accounts. It is a great way to keep up with family and friends that we may not get to see or talk to every day. We share good news, bad news, pictures, and videos. So much of our lives are shared on the internet. It’s important to consider a few things.
- Be sure to clean up your friend lists.
Sometimes your friends get hacked and just create new pages, leaving the hacker with access to all of your pictures, videos, and other information you only intended to share with people you know.
- Be aware of what you post.
It’s great to share pictures of that cool vacation but now someone knows you’re not at home. That is the perfect time for a thief to break in. Those “About Me” games seem like a good way to pass time but some of that information may give away answers to your security questions used for authentication.
- Make your page private.
If you’re posting pictures and videos, it’s best to have a private profile and share that information with friends. An open profile gives everyone access.
- Keep your account secure.
As always, remember to turn on two factor authentication and change your password regularly. Use a different password than your other online accounts.
- Don’t trust, always verify.
Never trust direct messages asking for money just because it’s coming from a friend. Always verify. Text them if you can. If not, ask some questions only that person would know the answer to (not something that could be found on your page or theirs). Do not click on random, “I think this is you in this video” type of links either. That is a sure way for your account to be compromised too.
Social media can be entertaining but always play it safe.