How to stay safe online on Facebook has become a question that many people ponder. Why are so many teenagers and children allowing themselves to be constantly “tagged” and harassed on Facebook? Is it because they don’t know any better? Or is there something else?
Today, over 79% of the entire U.S. population uses social media, but surprisingly, very few people have any idea how to stay safe online on Facebook. Users freely share confidential information, poorly protect passwords, and almost every day, hackers are the new victim of social media breaches, identity theft, or have personal information stolen. However, when these hackers get caught, the first question in their minds is about how to get out of Facebook jail.
Always Use an Antivirus on Your Devices
It doesn’t take a master hacker to break through social media security settings. It does take smart thinking and the use of privacy protection tools. You don’t even need to know how to do it – you can use apps. Apps work much like antivirus programs on the market. They scan your phone for harmful elements such as adware, spyware, malware, and viruses and clean them from your phone. There are many different types of apps available, such as Kaspersky and Avast, among others.
Be Wary Of Phishing Attacks
The biggest threat today isn’t from hackers or software but from phishing scams. Phishing scams are a growing problem. Phishing scams are simply emails that request personal information. Some examples of phishing scams are emails promising “unlimited space free of charge,” “get $500 free credit,” or “get an amazing discount.” If you open these emails and fill out the required information, you could get into a lot of trouble.
Hackers and phishing scams are just two of the dangers associated with social media. Many people think they are safe from malware, hacking, and phishing if they only use their phones for messaging and sharing photos. This is not a safe practice because it takes control of your phone and exposes your personal data to those wishing to intrude on you. When security is breached, and privacy is compromised, it’s hard to trust anyone.
Use the Right Privacy Settings
To stay secure on Facebook, you need to learn how to use the privacy settings wisely. Facebook now requires users to accept the privacy policy and security questions that the company has published. This makes it imperative that you review these questions and make sure you agree with them. Whenever you have questions regarding privacy and safety, you should immediately contact the website and ask for help. The Facebook support team is always there to help you.
Read and Understand the Terms Of Service
It is also important to read the terms of service for each social media site and determine what information is allowed and what is not. These policies can change at any time, so it is essential to always check and be sure your privacy policy and other safety policies remain current. This is true with all social media policies and updates. Ensure your staff is trained on how to use the new features and make sure your staff is familiar with the different ways to report issues.
Always Use Strong Passwords to Prevent Brute Force Attacks
You can also keep your Facebook accounts safe by setting strong passwords and making sure they are hard to guess. Many hackers make it very easy for them to guess common usernames, such as user names and utilize commonly used passwords that may have been compromised. If you use strong passwords and difficult-to-guess usernames, this will help to protect your account.
Also, if you have more than one social media account and use strong passwords for all of them, it is harder for hackers to access them and steal your information via brute force attacks.
In Conclusion
Hackers know how to go about stealing your information, and it can be hard to defend against them. For this reason, many people do not opt for a complete security overhaul on their Facebook accounts. They think it’s more important to prevent the small amount of risk that happens every day. The truth is, you can never be too careful when it comes to the dangers of online scams, phishing scams, and hackers. However, by taking small steps to improve your security and limiting the scope of who can access your information, you can take steps to ensure your Facebook experience is nothing but fun and safe.