Given the increasing instances of identity theft and harassment on social media, it has become imperative to prioritize the protection of our privacy. It is crucial to be cautious about our online activities in order to prevent the exploitation of our personal information. To ensure a secure online presence and minimize the risk of data breaches, it is essential to avoid making these common errors on social media platforms.
1 Giving Apps Access to Your Social Media Accounts
Similarly, the option to utilize social login for other applications has become widespread. Although it may appear harmless to log in to a game or another app using your social media credentials, it grants these applications access not only to your account information but also potentially to the login details you utilized.
Hence, it is recommended to refrain from sharing this sensitive data with third-party applications and avoid using your social media account for social sign-ins.
2 Leaving Your Profile Public
When your social media profile is set to public, it becomes visible to anyone who comes across it. This means that your photos, personal information, and all your posts are accessible to everyone. Unfortunately, scammers can take advantage of this information that is readily available to the public. They can use your identity to create fake profiles and pretend to be you.
This not only damages your reputation but also poses a threat to your loved ones. Impersonators might use your identity to ask for money or try to extract private details from your contacts. To mitigate these risks, it is advisable to adjust your social media settings to private, allowing only your approved friends to view your profile.
Most social media platforms provide the option to enhance privacy settings. If your profile is currently public, it is recommended to switch it to private for added security.
3 Divulging Too Much Personal Information
It is important to exercise caution when sharing personal information, even if your profile is set to private. Avoid disclosing details like your date of birth, phone number, or home address, as these can be used for identity theft. Additionally, refrain from taking selfies with sensitive documents such as your ID, passport, or credit/debit card. Furthermore, it is advisable not to overshare about your health, relationships, or financial status. Similarly, avoid discussing work-related matters to protect your company's privacy.
4 Neglecting Your Privacy Settings
Neglecting fundamental security measures can expose your account and privacy to vulnerabilities. This encompasses the use of a weak and easily predictable password, as well as employing the same password for multiple social media platforms. Similarly, the absence of two-factor authentication simplifies the task for hackers to breach your account and compromise your privacy.
To mitigate these risks, it is imperative to consistently employ a strong and hard-to-guess password, ensuring that each social media account has a unique password. Additionally, refrain from storing your login credentials online. If you have not yet activated two-factor authentication, it is advisable to enable it in order to enhance the security of your account.
Furthermore, it is recommended to review your privacy settings on your social media profiles to ensure that you are not unintentionally sharing unwanted data.
5 Sharing Your Travel Plans
It is crucial to refrain from sharing your travel plans on social media as it can pose a significant risk to your security. By announcing your vacation plans, you inadvertently inform potential burglars that your home will be unoccupied, thereby increasing the likelihood of theft. Additionally, providing real-time check-ins during your trip can expose your whereabouts to fraudsters, who may exploit this information.
To safeguard your privacy, it is advisable to abstain from posting your travel plans on social media platforms. Furthermore, refraining from check-ins and removing location details from your photos can effectively prevent the disclosure of your whereabouts.
6 Engaging With Unknown People
There are individuals in our social media friend lists who are merely acquaintances. These connections may have been established through a public group or post, without any real-life interaction or video calls. Despite their status as strangers, they remain on our friends list.
Even with privacy measures in place, these unfamiliar individuals can still present a significant privacy threat, as their true intentions are unknown. They may have connected with you solely to monitor your online activities and potentially exploit the information in the future. If you have unknown individuals on your list, it may be wise to consider removing them.
If unfriending seems too extreme and you wish to maintain the connection, it is advisable to adjust your privacy settings to restrict their access to your activities. Furthermore, it is recommended to refrain from adding strangers to your friend list moving forward.
7 Using Your Social Media Accounts in Public or on a Public Computer
Lastly, the security of your privacy can be compromised by using your social media account on a public computer. Keyloggers can be installed by fraudsters to capture your login details, hackers can intercept your data, and leaving your account logged in on the device can allow unauthorized access later on.
To prevent such risks, it is advisable to refrain from accessing social media on public computers or in public places.
Furthermore, it is important to avoid connecting your phone or computer to public Wi-Fi networks, as they are often vulnerable to hackers who can intercept shared information. It is safer to use your phone's data when in public instead of connecting to unsecured networks.
These precautions are essential to protect your privacy while using social media platforms. Regularly check the devices logged into your account and be cautious of any unfamiliar devices, as they could indicate a compromise of your account.