Most social media articles start out with statistics on how big social media has become….we don’t need numbers to remind ourselves, now, do we? Just take a look around you and you’ll realize how big it is. Chances are that your 10 year old niece is on Facebook, even though the age limit is set at 13…and don’t get me started on My Space.
Social media security is important for a wide number of reasons protecting your niece from online perverts, avoiding slipping up important company data, keeping your personal accounts and details private….the list is long. Whatever the reason you may have, here are top five cross-cutting tips for better social media security.
1.Get a strong password
It is amazing how easy it is to create a strong password, but we still use “P@sswords” that are so easy to crack. Brute force attacks are on the rise people, a strong password is essential. Just like you wouldn’t dream of having a fortified compound guarded by a small picket-fence gate, you should make you’re your password is impenetrable. Here are some fun and easy ways to create strong passwords. Better still, change your passwords every so often (every two months) and have different passwords for every social media account you have. This way, if you are compromised once, your other accounts remain un-compromised.
Also Read: How To Keep Children Safe When Introducing Them To The Internet
2.Examine your add-ons and apps
If your account is a fortified home compound, think of apps and add-ons as babysitters and helps that come to make your life so much easier. Good apps and add-ons ensure that you have a great browsing experience.
Unlike websites where a simple examination of their SSL Certificate would be sufficient, add-ons and apps require more vigilance. Third party apps on social media have access to your account details, and possibly can post as you, depending on the permission level you gave them….scary if they are made by a zombie owner! Check out whether they are made by a reputable source, no matter how popular they are. Also, ensure that you update them in case there are security patches identified.
3.Understand your privacy settings
While default setting for most social sites are not very good, adjusting the privacy settings ensures that you are adequately protected. However, very few people bother to understand the privacy settings, let alone use them.
Also Read: 5 Ways To Protect Your Content On PC
4.Know your friends
While being popular on social media is always tempting. However, you need to ensure that whoever you are accepting is someone who you really know. It is easy to accept a friend request and end up revealing sensitive personal information that can lead to identity theft.
5.Be careful about links that you click
Sharing content is one of the biggest aims of social media. However, you need to be careful about the links you click on and/or share. It isn’t uncommon to find yourself sharing a malicious link that will have your computer zombified. Such attacks are common across the board, but seem to be more prevalent on Twitter. XSS and phishing attacks usually start as harmless links on some exciting or alarming piece of news. Always be vigilant.
