Secure Our World – Social Media Safety
Information you volunteer on social media sites can be used against you; such as, your birthday, workplace, family connections, recent vacations, etc. can be pieced together to build a comprehensive profile to steal your identity, your money, or even blackmail you.
Types of Social Media Threats:
- Impersonation: Cybercriminals create fake profiles, imitating you or someone you know, to deceive friends or colleagues.
- Information Harvesting: Malicious actors may use quizzes, games, or applications that request access to your profile. Once granted, they can mine personal data.
- Malicious Links: Posts or messages containing links that, once clicked, could install malware, or lead to fraudulent websites.
- Geotagging: Revealing your location can notify would-be burglars when you are not home or give stalkers your whereabouts.
Steps for a Safer Social Media Experience:
- Review Privacy Settings: Regularly check and adjust your privacy settings. Ensure that your posts are visible only to trusted friends or connections.
- Think Before Posting: Think of the long-term implications. Once online, it is difficult to erase your digital footprint completely.
- Limit Personal Information: Avoid sharing specifics like home address, phone number, or other identifiable details.
- Beware of Unsolicited Messages: Even if they come from familiar faces, verify any unexpected or suspicious requests via another communication channel.
- Recognize Fake Profiles: Be wary of accepting friend requests from unknown accounts. Verify the identity of the requester before connecting.
- Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Protect your accounts with robust passwords and use different passwords for different platforms.
- Activate Multi-Factor Authentication: Many platforms now offer this added layer of security. Use it to ensure that only you can access your account.
- Regularly Update Apps: Developers release security patches to protect against vulnerabilities. Keep your social media apps up to date.
- Stay Informed: Cybersecurity threats evolve, as do the features and policies of social media platforms. Regularly educate yourself to stay safe.
We value your input. If you have suggestions or questions, please contact us by submitting a ticket to the Service Desk.