Five Important Steps, for You and Your Kids, to Staying Safe on Social Networks

But some social networks are taking things a step further. They know where you are right now.

Location-based mobile apps like Foursquare and Gowalla turn “checking in” into a game. Users can earn points, badges, and “mayorships” for each venue they visit and share with the world. Venues include restaurants, movie theaters, offices, gyms, and more. In fact, users can create a public venue for anything—and they often do. Even for personal home addresses.

Don’t feel pressured by social networks to share everything or constantly grow your number of friends. Here are five safety tips to follow across any social site:

1. Be generic. A picture of a beach is safer than a personal photo in which you are easily identified. Use an initial or nickname instead of a last name, and avoid giving out phone numbers and email addresses.
2. Run a tight ship. Familiarize yourself with privacy or security settings on every network. Customize your settings so you feel safe. Once a month, browse your list of friends and un-friend or block any suspicious followers.
3. Be smart about sharing. Don’t check in to a venue until you are about to leave. Never check into your home, apartment, or hotel.
4. Think before you click. As with email, if you receive a suspicious Facebook message or tweet with a link from a friend, don’t click it. The account was probably hacked.
5. Create complicated passwords. Prevent hackers from taking over your profile—and possibly your identity. Don’t use a birth date, PIN (personal identification number), or the same password as your bank account. Use these tips and stay safe!

Dzwoniąc powołaj się na reklamę z POLONIJNEJ KSIĄŻKI - Polish Pages.