Protecting Your Identity on Social Networking Sites
Social networking sites are the new fad. You log-on, create a profile and instantly you are connected with friends and family from all over. You update your status with your day-to-day events, notify friends and followers or upcoming activities, and you even post photographs. It is almost trendy to update your Facebook status every day, but while you are playing around on your social networking sites, identity thieves are skimming your information for their own fun.
Social Networking Site by Definition
If you are asking yourself what a social networking site is, then you are not at risk to this form of identity theft, but a consumer should still be aware of what they are. A social networking site is a web site where individuals can sign-up, create individual profiles and connect with people from all over the world. Though the majority of users will use a social networking site to connect with family and friends, others will use them to meet people.
Identity Theft through Social Networking Sites
Though a social networking site appears to be innocent enough, they are actually one of the latest ways to fall victim to identity theft. Just think about it – what information do you post or have posted on your social networking page? Now consider the following ways identity thieves will use social networking sites to steal your personal information:
-Most social networking sites have low privacy settings and the user has to specifically change it to high priority in order to be fully protected.
-Accepting friend invitations from people you do not know gives them access to your profile and information posted in it.
-Free applications that are offered for your profile can be downloaded and contain malware or spyware.
-Participation in quizzes through your social networking web site give outside sources access to your profile information.
-Clicking on links provided to you by friends or contacts through the social networking site.
-Clicking on phishing scam links provided to you through contacts.
-Not using up-to-date computer protection software such as firewalls, anti-virus and anti-spyware software.