if you’re like the majority, your social media networks are an essential part of your lifestyles .but they don't always know how to do what's best for themselves. When faced with this situation, there are things you can do to protect yourself from scammers. Here's what to look out for.
1. Don’t Forget About Privacy
Unfortunately, your photos, messages, links, likes, etc., can all be used by others to identify you. This means anyone who sees the data could make assumptions about your identity. There are ways to protect yourself from this by:
Using strong passwords (especially for web sites)
Using two-factor authentication (2FA)
Updating your software to automatically approve incoming connections and change settings so no one else can access your account
Using two-factor authentication for accounts you manage in addition to social media
Using multifactor authentication for all website applications and services
Using multi-factor multi-factor authentication when using online banking services
2. Use Strong Passwords
Passwords are short piece of code that must be stored somewhere on your computer. They provide extra protection; they keep your secret and location safe, but also limit their ability to decrypt or see your information. A password manager is useful for storing them as long as possible. Some popular ones include KeePass, LastPass, and Google Chrome Password Manager. It doesn't get much more secure than making some simple changes in your browser settings.
3. Know What Not to Post
Everyone should know not to post anything that you wouldn’t want posted on your main feed that isn't relevant to what you're posting or looking to post. Make sure to have at least two sources where you post something you’re happy about. For example, if you enjoy cooking on Instagram, then post that recipe to Instagram first and post any other recipes next. If you love being honest, then never talk about the wrong way you ate or the wrong restaurant you visited on someone else’s timeline. Most importantly don't give away sensitive or private information. Even basic details like your birthday, address, and age can be linked to other information that's public or is even tracked around social media platforms.
Some websites provide URLs that link directly to your credit card number. Those websites may ask you to sign up, provide your name to confirm their account information, or send money to you through wire transfer. But these are just forms of tracking to steal information. We recommend against doing this unless you're asked to. Also make sure to use HTTPS protocols on those websites. Websites that ask you to verify that you have a real account or website provide no protections. These links aren't going to show ads or track you. So avoid giving away any information that isn't relevant to whatever you are trying to accomplish.
5. Watch Out For Links Off The Internet Everywhere
Many hackers set up malware sites via the HTTP / HTTPS protocol. These sites try to trick you into clicking the malicious link and sending money. This tactic usually works well if you enter too many information at once without checking each link and entering their individual information. Remember, hackers can sniff out keywords like "buy bitcoins," "buy bitcoin worth $100" or "buy Bitcoin worth $20."
6. Always Keep An Eye On Email Account Information
When you receive emails, make sure to check them carefully. Look at a few sentences here and there before clicking. Take note of how many times the sender asked for your email address. And ensure you were expecting a business email address such as company@yourbusiness.info or work.yourbusiness.info. Always remember to double check before opening the email.
7. Do Anything Asking
If you're not sure of how to respond to a message, you should either read the entire thing or send a reply explaining why you think you should respond in that way instead. Remember, if you're dealing with criminals, your response will be valuable information and can be found out later. After all, you're paying for the service, so act courteous and helpful. And don't click on suspiciously. This also applies to social media apps as you might be able to get hacked into a different account but if you're not careful or suspicious, you could also get taken by a criminal.
8 Set Boundaries
If you're looking to build community or establish an authentic connection with other fans, make sure you aren't allowing anyone to cross over into your fan club. For example, you share pictures in forums or groups on Facebook and sometimes someone tries to tell you about another user sharing that same photo or saying something rude to the person. Set the boundaries on what you say online so nobody crosses them. Or don’t let people follow you on Twitter. It can get very annoying and awkward when somebody follows a page like yours and says something inappropriate.
9. Only Follow Pages That Are Relevant
If you like reading newsletters, be careful what pages go to your inbox because they can end up spamming you. Go to your site’s Privacy Policy, turn off notifications on social media or change your email provider's password. Just ensure the privacy is easy to follow. If you have shared any social media account links and any contact information, make sure they are valid pages.
10. Have Multiple Accounts
If you have multiple accounts on various parts of the internet and only interact with them on a small percentage of your regular activity, then you're better protected. However, have multiple email addresses and/or other online bank accounts and social media pages to log into.
11. Change Your Location Often Because Hackers Can Access Your Devices
If you've got a laptop in your home and several laptops and computers in places around the world, including school, doctor's office, prison, hotel, etc., you need to update them. You need to make sure their devices are regularly updated since they can be used to steal your personal data. If you regularly move the device like you would your phone or tablet, it will also help the hackers reach you.
Now Often, viruses and malware also come embedded within legitimate programs. If you don't have antivirus software or anti-virus software installed on your Windows 10 PC, you could run into this problem. So download some anti-viruses and Anti-virus software in advance. Then only sign in when it asks for permission. This will block malicious links and prevent unwanted requests to sign up for a subscription. And install anti-virus programs when you log in if they ask you for permission. If they don’t, start getting alerts from the program blocking access to your account. The last line of defense is running virtual private network. VPNs encrypt traffic between computers to make it look like it's actually sending you across the Atlantic Ocean. It hides your online activities and makes it harder for the hacker to find any evidence about your whereabouts or identity. If you have trouble connecting to the internet, you need to start running a Virtual Private Network. These are tools for accessing information that goes beyond just local area networking so you can connect to anywhere you want. If you're having trouble securing your account, you need to add a password to create a VPN. If you don't know a password to use, don't put it online. Don't click on unnecessary advertising sites or accept links that say something different than the one you signed up for. If you're struggling to figure out how to protect yourself on social media, the easiest and fastest place to search is by searching for social media scammers online. By downloading our free guide and following the steps above, you can protect yourself.
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