Stay safe while social networking
The number of people who spend at least a few minutes each day checking their social network profiles is steadily growing. If your mom hasn’t already requested to be your friend on Facebook, don’t worryit’s coming. With that being said, there are some online practices that are safer than others. Don’t jeopardize your personal safety or your career expectations with risky behaviors, and be sure to follow these top 10 tips for safe social networking.1.Restrict access to your information so that you know who’s viewing what. Some sites will allow for more privacy restrictions than otherssteer clear of posting delicate information on more open sites.2.Don’t post information you wouldn’t give to a stranger on the street. This includes your full name, phone number, address, Social Security number, and definitely your financial information. Even information like your school or job could help malicious users track you down.3.Be cautious about meeting people online. While some social networking sites such as online dating services are designed to bring people together, even they can be subject to falsified information. Unless you’re positive about the person you’re meeting, it’s better to just say no.4.Don’t accept every friend request. Privacy settings that restrict access to your group of friends are meaningless if you let strangers into that group. Only accept requests from people you know.5.Be knowledgeable about the third-party applications you install. Some applications are scams that allow people to steal your information, just as easily as if you accepted a strange friend request and shared intimate information.6.Post only your “best” photos. This doesn’t mean the ones where you look the best, especially if said photos show suggestive imagery, party environments, or other suspicious behavior. You never know who might copy and spread this information.7.Realize that there are no “take-backs” on the internet. Even if you delete certain information, older versions of the site will still be accessible on archive sites or on other users’ computers.8.Be careful about clicking links sent from friends. Spam is just as much of a problem on social networking sites as it is in e-mail. These links may install malicious programs on your site.9.Directly type in the name of the website. Some sites may try to trick you into sharing personal information by mimicking social network sites. Don’t be fooled by imitations.10.Always use up-to-date security. Make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is set up to protect you against the latest security threats.