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For anyone who is used to being on social media, you’ll also likely be all too aware of the importance of social media privacy. In a society where we are happy to share everything with everyone, though, it’s hard to know just where the line is drawn. Given so many people are lax when it comes to social media security, it pays to know just what you need to do if you wish to buck the trend and avoid spending so much time trying to cover up your tracks.
While tools like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by the European Union (EU) has helped Europeans to protect their data, particularly on social media, it’s not yet fully secure. For that reason, you might do well by investing some time, money, and energy into better understanding social media privacy.
Whether you’re a business owner looking to avoid fines as large as €20m or 4% of turnover (according to mobilesignalboosters) by breaking GDPR rules, or you wish to simply be safer online, consider the following steps to internet privacy.
1. Become a master of privacy settings
First off, get used to using privacy settings to your advantage. Many of us ignore this section when using a new website or similar; this is a massive, massive mistake. One that you will come to regret hugely if you continue to do so. so, what we recommend is that you become a master of privacy settings.
To do that, make sure that every social media accounts’ privacy settings are checked out in full. Also, remember that ‘private’ is not 100% private: some people can still find their way through that privacy layer. So, keep this in mind: if you think something could be too sensitive to share anywhere, then do not share it on a single social media site – regardless of your privacy settings.
2. Create strong, private passwords
Next, make sure that you start using stronger passwords. Many of us make the mistake of using basic passwords for our social media accounts – it’s not a good idea. What we recommend that you do is that you start spending more time looking at social media best practice with regards to best passwords.
For example, a good choice that you could go for is to start using a tool like BitWarden. This is a great tool for creating robust passwords that are far less likely to get hacked. More importantly, they will also be unique to each account, so even losing one account would not mean all of your accounts being accessible by using the same password. Keep that in mind!
3. Be careful what you share
While sharing is caring, sharing too much can make the wrong person care about you. Try and make sure you aren’t sharing as much data as you are at the moment by simply reducing the amount of social media posts that you do.
A silly mistake like posting the name of your mother can be just enough for someone to work out a security code to get into your back account. Even stuff like always having your location on can be a mistake. Did you know, for example, that some hackers will be looking for you to be out of the house – or out of town – before invading your home?
Don’t let the world know where you are; it could invite the wrong kind of attention.
4. Keep system up to date with antivirus
One of the best decisions that you could make, though, is to start updating all of your software. All the time. Out of date software, and out of date antivirus software in particular, has the risk of being invaded and damaged. If you would like to avoid that problem, then you need to keep up-to-date with the latest updates and software improvements.
Otherwise, you make it far too easy for someone with the wrong intentions to get logged into one of your accounts. So, make sure you keep that system up-to-date and get all the latest adjustments that you can. A failure to do this can really be quite dangerous for you, so make sure you keep this in mind as you build up your social media profiles.
5. Verify friend requests and block fake accounts
One mistake that a lot of users do is just accepting all finds of friend requests. If you make that mistake, you are asking for trouble. Many of us will make it so that we have to verify every friend request. That is very useful, as it will make sure that you can get the help that you need to avoid randoms getting in touch with you when you want it least.
Fake accounts could be used jus to spy on you, see what you post etc. – don’t give them the chance to do that. Instead, make sure that you ensure every friend request is verified ahead of time. This is the only way to ensure you don’t accept nefarious spies into your friendship circle.
6. Hide your photos & keep your browsing secret
If you are someone who worries about your photos being used or found by the wrong people, then you have to get very serious about what photos you post. We recommend not posting anything you think could ever be used against you, or put you at risk, on social media.
As we mentioned above, private photos can still be indexed by search engines and found by people who shouldn’t have access. If that worries you, then make sure that you take the time to keep all of your photos hidden. Also, make sure you don’t allow your web browser to track your usage of any websites or information. In your browser settings, turn off all tracking, logging and the like: you will feel much safer if you choose to do this.
7. Regularly check your mailbox to check suspicious login attempts
One mistake that a lot of people make is that they don’t pay attention to who is trying to log in to their account. If someone tries to log in to a social media account from a location that seems suspicious, you will be informed of their decision. Make sure you log into your e-mail on a regular basis to find out more about that.
If you make the mistake of not doing so, then you could have a problem on your hands: you will not know when someone is trying to log in and take over your account. The more knowledge that you can have about attempts like this, the better it is for your likely security in the long-term.
8. Consider identity theft protection
Always look to invest in some form of ID theft protection. It might seem over-the-top, but there are many tools that you can use to help protect your ID from ever being taken, used, or abused. If you keep this in mind, you should find it much easier to protect your identity and make sure you can keep it as safe as is possible.
If you wish to make it easier to keep your identity safe, then, be sure to consider getting identity theft protection. It’s a worthwhile investment, and one that should pay dividends for you in the long-term. With that in mind, then, be sure to invest in a tool like Experian Information Solutions – it’s very good for protecting you even further when you are online.
9. Turn off lock screen notifications
Another good way to make sure that you spend less time worrying and more time benefiting is by turning off lock screen notifications. Many of us make the mistake of leaving these on. Simply go to the Notifications settings for that particular app, or into the actual phone settings, and turn off lock screen notifications.
You might wonder why. Well, a lot of personal details can appear in lock screen notifications that you might not have even considered. Before you could do anything about it, though, your very identity could be compromised. Naturally, it makes sense to avoid that issue. So, turn off your lock screen and you will be far less likely to have problems with regards to showing the world sensitive, personal information.
10. Log off to your accounts when used
It’s a simple thing to do, and we recommend that you do it more often than not. When you are finished using any social media account – on your phone, your tablet, your PC, wherever – make sure that you log off. Leaving yourself logged in just makes it easier for people to find the key data that they need.
In a worst case scenario, it means they only need access to your device to get to your social media accounts. You want to avoid this problem as best you can, so make sure that you start consciously logging off from all of your accounts.
You will thank us when you notice the chances of being the victim of data theft drops massively simply by doing this!
Author Bio : Julian Hooks is the community manager at MobileSignalBoosters and has a interest in web design for mobile uses and user experience. When not working he enjoys swimming, rugby and gym workouts.
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