How to Protect your Data in a Social-First World

AdSpark Team - 6 years ago

When everyone is sharing their information on social media, should you?

In an age where sharing and stealing information have never been easier, internet users must be wary of securing their privacy.

Here are few tips to guard you from data breach.

1. Spilling more personal information might seem harmless, but don’t give in.

Social networks have their own cute little ways to persuade its users to provide more personal information. A 9/9 complete page can look fancy (and less annoying since you won’t see those questions anymore), but is it worth it?

Know that this information isn’t meant to simply jazz up your page. It can be used for and against you.

If you really can’t help it, remember this one rule: If you’re okay with a complete stranger knowing this particular information about you, then go ahead.

2. Be in full control of your social media accounts by mastering the privacy setting.

Have you recently checked your account settings and privacy? If you did, then you probably noticed all the changes done by Facebook in light of the ongoing controversy on the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data breach scandal.

Now is the best time to further secure your account. Review your preferences, posts visibility options, third-party apps you have authorized and probably forgot about, and filter information you have shared. It is now or never, literally.

3. Be very mindful when clicking links and apps.

Did you know that there were about 4,000 malicious software attacks in 2016?

The internet is ubiquitous with vicious software that can be detrimental to your privacy and security. Be cautious when clicking any attachment, link, and apps sent by untrusted and unknown parties.

Remember Locky ? Known as one if not the largest ransomware attack to date, Locky scammed a massive amount of people when they sent out 20 million+ emails. By simply clicking the attached file, user’s files will be corrupted and the only way to retrieve them was to pay the ransom.

For more cyber crimes, you may also visit How Good Cyber Hygiene Can Save You.

4. Think thrice before posting anything and accepting that friend request.

Remember that the Internet is permanent. Anything you post is considered owned by the virtual world and you can’t do much about it. Likewise, accepting strangers to your friends list won’t do you much good. Gone are the days when bragging rights go for the account with the most “friends.” Go for quality over quantity, any time of the day.

Still want a massive friends list? We suggest you create a fan page instead.

5. Secure your login.

This will sound familiar to some but nonetheless, a little reminder goes a long way.

Use different usernames and passwords per account.

Update your passwords regularly – monthly if you can.

Avoid using your email address as the username.

To step it up, enable two-factor authentication and option to log out across all devices.

Again, master your security settings. Make sure you are always in-the-know.

It is high time that we take data protection seriously. Although we won’t go as far as asking you to deactivate your social media accounts, even if Elon Musk already did, just know that whatever you post online can be known by possibly anyone. Question is, are you comfortable with it?