precautions while using social networking sites

Would you put your full resume online for everyone to see? Probably not. It would be too easy for identity thieves to use the information to fill out a loan application, guess a password security question (like hackers did with VP candidateSarah Palins Yahoo account) or social engineer their way into your companys network. Limit your work history details on sites like LinkedIn. If you feel you need the added information to help in a job search, expand the details during the job hunting process and then cut back later after you have a position, leaving just enough information to entice recruiters to contact you with interesting new positions.

There are lots of reasons (most of them bad) why someone might impersonate or falsify an identity online. It could be as a prank or for fun such as those who impersonate a celebrity as satire. Faking an identity has a legit side too

Control commentsBlogs are beginning to use authenticated commenting systems like IntenseDebate (acquired by Automattic, the makers of WordPress blogging software.) Anonymous blog comments (marked as anonymous) are fine but some goofballs get their jollies leaving comments under someone elses name. It probably happens more often than we think. Commenting systems like IntenseDebate allow users to make anonymous or unregistered comments, or registered users can login and leave the comment as a verified user, letting others know it really is them. Contact the site administrator immediately if you find someone is impersonating you on a social networking site or in blog comments. Most reputable sites will take down the impersonated content. If they wont remove the content, ask that they note youve contacted them indicating you didnt leave the comment or personal page.

You wouldnt put a note on your front door stating, Away for the weekend

Youve probably heard about an employee who was outted when playing hookie because they called in sick but blogged or Twittered about their escapades that same day. But there are more serious reasons you might be let go from your job due to the use of social networking tools. As blogging and social networking sites enter the workplace, so too are corporate acceptable use policies (AUP) being updated to define boundaries for employees, contractors and the company. Data leakage incidents (loss of corporate, confidential or customer information), making inappropriate public statements about the company, using corporate resources for personal uses and harassing or inappropriate behavior toward another employee can all be grounds for reprimand or dismissal. Social networking sites are another way those things can happen and they create an easy digital paper trail to investigate.

Social network sites are typically free to use which means they are making their money by advertising to you. And that means they are collecting information about you. Is your information shared with outside companies and partners? What information can thirdparty plugin software, such as Facebook Applications, use from your profile or page content? Review the sites privacy policy and watch closely the privacy settings you can control.

Search yourselfIt is a good idea to search your name on Google and check out your profile as others see it on social networking sites. Understand where you show up and what information is available about you, and then adjust your profile, settings and habits appropriately. Dont worry, its not vain if you only search your own name once a month or so. If you unexpectedly see your name in locations you dont frequent, it could give you a heads up someone else is using your identity online. Set up a Google alert with your name, which emails you when Google finds your name on sites. While some names, like John Smith, are so common they would generate lots of false positives, you may still find out a lot about where your information is appearing online. Even if you find there are others online with the same name, it can help you avoid confusion, (or maybe its an opportunity to reach out and connect to someone with the same namesake).

Put a number on something and suddenly you have a competition. The person with the most friends isnt necessarily the winner in social networking, unless of course you are running for president or you are in some type of recruiting, sales or media business. Thats just more people, including possibly strangers, who now have access to more of your information. It is best to only friend people who really are or have become your friends. Your personal information has less opportunity for misuse. If you do get an unsolicited invite to connect, check them out first and try to figure out why you know them or if you even do at all.