Protect Yourself Against Cyber Threats - Social Networks
by Neal Fisch in awareness, cloud, data security, faculty, news, newsletter, personal security, phishing scams, security, social networking, staff, students, tips 0
Continuing our blog series targeted at protecting yourself against cyber threats, today's blog topic covers Social Networks
Today's guest blog contributor is Eric Varela. Eric is a student here at CSU Channel Islands majoring in Information Technology with a minor in Security Systems Engineering.
Think before you post: Limit the amount of personal information you post publicly. Do not post information that would make you vulnerable, such as your address or information about your schedule or routine. If your friend posts information about you, make sure the information is something that you are comfortable sharing with strangers.
Once posted, always posted: Protect your reputation on social networks. What you post online stays online. Think twice before posting pictures you wouldn't want your parents or future employers to see. (Tip: Recent research found that 70% of job recruiters rejected candidates based on information they found online).
Get smart and use privacy settings: Take advantage of privacy and security settings. The more information you post, the easier it may be for a hacker or someone else to use that information to steal your identity, access your data, or commit crimes such as stalking. Use site settings to limit the information you share with the general public.
Be honest if you're uncomfortable: If a friend posts something about you that makes you uncomfortable or you think is inappropriate, let them know. Likewise, stay open-minded if a friend approaches you because something you've posted makes him or her uncomfortable. (Tip: People have different tolerances for how much the world knows about them; respect those differences).
Know when to take action: If someone is harassing or threatening you, remove them from your friends list, block them, and report them to the site administrator. (Tip: It may also be appropriate to report it to school officials who may have separate policies for dealing with activity involving students).
Derived from NICCS and StaySafe Online
