8 privacy precautions to take on Social Media
At least 9 in 10 people use social media on a daily basis as a way of winding down after a stressful activity as well as on a professional capacity. However, your privacy should be of top priority since hackers use the information to stalk and bully you as well as send ransomware once they have your private information.
In this guide, we look at actionable precautions you can use to protect your privacy on social media.
Two-step Verification Access
Lock down your social media accounts with a two-step authentication login. Use a long unique password and ensure that it contains upper and lower case letters, punctuations, and numbers. Download a password manager to your device to remind you of the complex password to the social media accounts. The next step is to input a code sent to your phone to grant access to the account.
Control Posts Reach
Avoid sharing personal information on social media posts since one of your ‘friends’ can use it to steal your identity or cause you harm. Many social media networks today have the option of controlling who among your connections can see your posts.
Enable Private Browsing
Ensure that you are using a browser that has the private browsing feature. It deletes temporary Internet files such as location, cookies et al.
Do not Engage Cyberbullies
If you fall victim to cyberbullying, do not engage them but keep a record of the attacks. This might come in handy when you may need to alert the police and the social network.
Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi
Many of the public Wi-Fi systems are not secure. It is best to wait until you can access your social media accounts from a secure system at home or the office. Ensure to log out of your accounts when using a public device.
Secure Your Devices
Hackers trick you to install malware in many ways and through social media is one of them. Ensure that you have an up-to-date antivirus running at all times you are on social media and surfing the web. A good antivirus will offer specific social media tools to identify and stop social media attacks.
Look Out For Scams
Social media network fraudsters include apps with the promise of reading juicy stories or watch videos, then manipulates you into sharing personal information such as phone number, email, et al. Some download malware into your device, which puts your privacy at risk.
Learn the Networks Privacy Settings
Each social media network have specific privacy settings that outline what you ought to do to protect your privacy. Take the time and understand how to protect yourself on each of the networks.
In conclusion, social media helps you to keep in touch with friends and colleagues as well as meet new people. With the above precautions, you will be safe from frauds who exploit personal information.
