precautions while using facebook

Precautions while using Facebook

Facebook is an online social networking service headquartered in Menlo Park, California.
41. Be sure to keep your house clean
Most people who use Facebook, including myself, have run into the situation where their Facebook is clean and professional. Only then have a friend or family member post a photo of you in a bar when you were in college, or smoking when you were not supposed, or running down the street with the stolen street sign when you were in high school. These scenarios are often not done to harm you but they can be quite damaging to your professional and personal life. Be sure to monitor and clean your house for these skeletons in your closet. Notify any friends or family members immediately when an item is posted to take it down.
42. Be sure to watch what you place on your Wall
The Wall is exactly that, a wall such as the bulletin board at work or in school. When you make postings to your wall, the post is placed prominently on your Facebook site and also copied to all your friends and family as an update of what you are doing. It is the equivalent of hitting the Reply All in an email. Do not place postings regarding your late night out or your latest fling unless you want your friends, coworkers, and family to know of your escapades. If you really need to detail your latest rant against your boss or how you acted during the football game last week, do it in a private email outside of Facebook. There are now Web sites designed to post embarrassing Wall postings. Do not be the person that millions of Internet users are now laughing at.
43. Do not leave your computer on with your Facebook account open
Leaving access to your Facebook account is the equivalent of leaving your wallet or cell phone in public on the picnic table. Anyone can sit down and start making posts to your Wall, redesigning your site, or even entice friends to play the greatest prank on you in your life. Be sure to sign out.
44. Be sure to have virus software for your computer and keep it updated
There are several viruses out there that attack your email address library. The viruses then send out posts to everyone in your library asking them to become your friend in Facebook while giving them the same virus. This has happened to several prominent attorneys I know and there is no stopping it once it has begun.
45. Spend time checking your spelling and grammar
We are all busy people with busy lives. However, not checking your spelling and grammar on your postings in Facebook can lead to several unwanted consequences. First, you can mistakenly type a word that is offensive or leads to a direct contradiction in your intended message. Checking spelling on the front end when posting can save you hours of time in trying to correct a mistake that offends your employer, significant others or your family.
46. Be careful not to provide too much information
Facebook is intended to be a social network. However, you do not need to go into every detail about your wisdom tooth being pulled or how your latest hot date ended. People do like details but only in an appropriate environment. If you feel the need to share then do it in person or over the phone. This also includes your family and friends. You may feel the need to speak about your friends latest date or their ongoing medical treatment but they may not want this information known to the world. They may have gone at great lengths to keep their medical treatment private and there is nothing worse than a non family member knowing more than the immediate family members. Respect their privacy and you will be better for it.
47. Understand Facebooks security settings and use them
Most analysts called this step absolutely mandatory. Larry Hawes, an analyst at Gilbane Group, noted that users need to find out where the security settings are on Facebook and take the time to learn how to use them to control what information is shared with people, applications and Web sites.
48. Whos your buddy
Come on. This is not high school and Facebook isnt a popularity contest. You dont need to befriends with everyone. Actually, a good reality check is if this person is actually a friend or family member in real life. If theyre not an actual friend, why would you want them to know when youre stuck working late, getting ready to go on vacation or that you just bought a new computer or flat screen TV?
49. Beware of those applications
Ray warns that using a Facebook application can give broad permission for whoever developed that application to access your data ... and your friends data. That means you may want to think twice before you take quizzes with titles like Would you make a good FBI agent? or Whats the theme song to your high school years? That means you may want to think twice before you take quizzes with titles like Would you make a good FBI agent? or Whats the theme song to your high school years?That means you may want to think twice before you take quizzes with titles like Would you make a good FBI agent? or Whats the theme song to your high school years? Only use applications from sources you trust, Ray added. And periodically check the list of applications youve used and given permissions to. You might be surprised how many youve approved, he said. Much like your PC, you probably want to regularly remove any applications you dont use and trust.
50. Malicious eyes
Sit down and closely look at your Facebook page and consider what a malicious personcould do with any of the informationyouve posted. Try to be objective and ask yourself, If I really hated this person or wanted to take advantage of her, is there anything I could do with this information to mess with her? said Olds. If the answer is yes, then consider what kinds of information youre posting on your Facebook page and make the appropriate adjustments. Analysts also warned users to not post any information that could be used in an identity theft scheme. Avoid listing your birth date, home address, childrens names, phone numbers and social security numbers.