precautions while using social networking sites

Precautions while using Social Networking Sites

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31. your personal bookmarks
Type the address of your social networking site directly into your browser or use your personal bookmarks.If you click a link to your site through email or another website, you might be entering your account name and password into a fake site where your personal information could be stolen.
32. Be selective about who you accept as a friend on a social network
Be selective about who you accept as a friend on a social network. Beware of what links you click and what software you download and install. Do not trust links/software sent by your friends implicitly as they themselves might not be aware it includes malware or their account might have been compromised.
33. Choose your social network carefully
Evaluate the site that you plan to use and make sure you understand the privacy policy. Find out if the site monitors content that people post. You will be providing personal information to this website, so use the same criteria that you would to select a site where you enter your credit card.
34. Assume that everything
Assume that everything you put on a social networking site is permanent.Even if you can delete your account, anyone on the Internet can easily print photos or text or save images and videos to a computer. Do not send confidential information through a social networking site even if someone who has legitimate access to that information asks you to.
35. Be careful about installing extras on your site
Many social networking sites allow you to download thirdparty applications that let you do more with your personal page. Criminals sometimes use these applications to steal your personal information. To download and use thirdparty applications safely, take the same safety precautions that you take with any other program or file you download from the web.
36. Think twice before you use social networking sites at work
For more information, seeBe careful with social networking sites, especially at work. Always be sceptical and wary. If someone asks to be friends on a social networking site and the profile appears to match a work mate, check personally with that person before accepting him as he could be an imposter. Also be sceptical of any offers or prizes you might have been told you won, they might actually be phishing attacks.
37. Talk to your kids about social networking
If youre a parent of children who use social networking sites, seeHow to help your kids use social websites more safely. Ensure your computer is up to date and has good antivirus protection; social networking sites are frequent targets of malware attacks. Never use the same passwords that you use at work on a social networking site.
38. Manage your digital footprint
First, make a list of all social networking sites, online services, and smartphone apps where you have an account. Google your full name (within quotes) and your email address to find accounts you might have forgotten about. Systematically, start closing the accounts and unsubscribing yourself from the services that you do not use any more. Try websites like AccountKiller.com, DeleteYourAccount.com and JustDelete.me for quick links and howtos.
39. click on the lock
In Facebook, click on the lock icon in the top right corner of the blue bar and change the settings to private, or share them only with close friends. Importantly, also disable the setting that lets search engines link to your timeline. There is currently a lot of M&A activity in the social networking software industry. A significant part of what an acquirer buys when acquiring a social networking company is the community of users on the site. Your account, including personal information, trades hands from the old company to the new one as part of the transaction.
40. Security and Privacy
Security and Privacy, choose the option Do not allow anyone to tag me in photos. Check the Protect my Tweets box so only people you approve can see them. Similarly, uncheck the Add a location to my Tweets box. Also, click the Delete all location information button to erase geotags from past tweets. Additionally, uncheck the Discoverability box that lets people find you by your email address.