Incredibly Easy Ways To Protect Yourself On Social Media
Social media networks have enabled people across the world to stay connected with their friends and family.
However, social media networks rely heavily on personal communications and connections, something that encourages users to provide some amount of personal information. Consequently, scammers and other online criminals are now using social media networks to steal other people’s personal information, and thus you need to stay protected while using any social media network out there. Here are some simple ways to protect yourself on social media.
1. Don’t share your personal details
Posting or sharing your personal information on social media networks can make you vulnerable to scammers, hackers and other online criminals who are out to steal people’s private information. Therefore, refrain from sharing personal information such as your stress address, phone number or any other sensitive information that you don’t feel comfortable with strangers knowing. Again, be careful while posting and sharing information about your connections lest you end up giving out their private information thus exposing them to scammers and hackers.
2. Come up with strong passwords for your social media accounts
When it comes to social media accounts passwords, the best passwords are the hardest to guess. Having strong passwords for all your social media networks will help ensure that no one else apart from you can access your accounts. More importantly, keep your passwords secure and change them frequently to avoid being hacked. If possible, make sure you use different passwords for different social media networks.
3. Know the people you are connecting with on social media
Hackers, scammers and other types of online criminals are known to misrepresent their motives and identities on social media. Therefore, always know the people you are connecting with prior to allowing them into your network. Once you get a connection request, always check whether the connection is real to ensure you aren’t connecting with an impostor who is out to steal your personal data. To figure out whether a connection is real or fake, check how many connections they have and whether they have something in common with you. Above all, never accept connection requests from unknown parties or suspicious people.
4. Keep your social media accounts private
Use the default privacy settings on your social media accounts to keep your accounts as private as possible. Modify the privacy settings to ensure you are only sharing information with certain people or people already in your network, and to prevent the public from accessing what you post on your social media accounts.
5. Desist from accessing social media with wireless connections and public computers
Accessing your social media accounts on shared computers and public wireless connections can make you vulnerable to scammers and hackers. Therefore, try your level best not to access your social media accounts on shared computers and other public wireless connections to reduce your risk of getting hacked. But if there is no other way you can access your accounts other than using shared computers and public wireless connections, don’t forget to log out completely. Again, don’t leave your passwords and any other sensitive information since you can’t be sure who will use that computer after you are gone.
Conclusion
When using social media networks, always ensure you are well protected from scammers, hackers, and people with ulterior motives. With these tips on how to use social media networks safely, there is no doubt you will remain protected when using social media.
