Safety should come first when it comes to social networking

October 5, 2010 – 10:46 am

In today’s digital world, most of us have at least some, if not just about all, of the details of our lives posted online. With the growth and popularity of Facebook and other social networking sites, there aren’t many people who haven’t posted some personal information somewhere.

But all that posting comes with a hidden issue – the risk of identity theft. When you post anything online, there are some things you can do to keep your information safe.

• Never post anything, including words, pictures, videos, links, e-mails, blogs, comments and tweets, that you’re not happy for the whole world to view. There is no hiding place once it’s posted. And no matter how secure the site is, there is always the risk that it can be hacked.

• Think before you post. Don’t post things that aren’t true or allegations you can’t prove – you could wind up in legal hot water. Don’t victimize or bully online, and don’t fire off a comment that you might regret later. Don’t copy someone else’s comments or ideas and pass them on as your own, and watch your language.

• Be careful how you use your name. Avoid using your full name, and remember that even a nickname could spell trouble. This can open the door to identity theft.

• Don’t post photos you wouldn’t want everyone to see. Full-face, high-resolution photos can be copied and used for identity theft. Use photos instead that are identity obscured. Don’t use photos of other people without their permission, particularly children.

• Keep your postal address and your main e-mail address private. Set up and use a disposable address for posting; one that you can delete if it gets into the wrong hands.

• Don’t post your telephone or cell phone number.

• If you wish to post a comment after reading a blog or news story, you’ll notice that the sites usually indicate that the use of your e-mail or other personal information will not be disclosed. Why risk it? Use your disposable address, and be sure to read the privacy policy thoroughly.

• Don’t give out information about when you’re home or not. Thieves would love to get their hands on that information.

The bottom line is that while social networking sites can be a lot of fun, they can also be dangerous. Exercise caution at all times.

Bookmark It