What it Means to Protect Yourself in the Virtual World
As we all have continued to integrate social media into our
everyday lives to connect, ‘plug-in’, and search for each other, we have made
ourselves vulnerable in ways that pose serious threats to more than our virtual
well-being. It is important that we understand the term over-share and what
this means when setting up, updating and continuing to use social networks. While
social networks have been a successful “way to connect online with the people
you know offline, you may end up sharing more — and with more strangers — than
you might realize.” (Pegoraro, 2014) It is important to
be aware of what you share, how you share and where you share it. For example, as
I am sure many of you have noticed, Facebook asks many questions about your
life and life events, while this may seem like intriguing information to share
with friends, it is important to understand that “you’re under no obligation to
provide most of it,” and probably should not. (Pegoraro, 2014)
Social Media in the Workplace
Many of us use social media as an outlet for expression but it
is important to properly gauge what content is appropriate to share, especially
if you are working for a government organization. It is imperative that even
your personal sites remain free of discriminatory, illegal, abusive and obscene
content. Understanding that all companies are prone to implementing different
policies for social media use, stay current on your company’s policies to avoid
any misunderstandings or violations. This helps to ensure that working
conditions are not affected and that you remain within the protected guidelines
of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). It is vital that you remember to keep
your emotion in check. As an employer it is better to “resolve work complaints
by speaking directly to co-workers or using the company’s open door policy
“than by posting complaints to a social media outlet.” (Stevens, 2012)
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| Who is watching you? (http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=10505) |
Six Factors You Need to Consider When Developing and Maintaining
Your Online Presence
Make all of accounts private—Only give people, you
absolutely know, the ability to view your account/site.
Keep in mind: The more people you add the more vulnerable
your are, not all people are who they may seem to be.
Do not provide too much information—This includes, middle
names, pet names, phone numbers, email addresses, and any information that
could be used to steal your identity.
Keep in mind: Once you post something on the
internet, it is there forever and you cannot ever get it back.
Location, Location, Location—You know where you are, but the
whole world doesn’t need to. While it may be fun to post where you are, just
realize that someone may be looking at your account and tracking your location.
Keep in mind: Your phone does not always ask you if
you want “allow location services,” meaning that even when you don’t realize
it, you are updating your location. Check your application settings to avoid
this.
You are not alone in this world—Your friends have the
ability to tag, post and repost your information with the click of a button.
Remember that while your account may be private, theirs may not be.
Keep in mind: This can include pictures,
conversations, and posts that can contain indecent materials. Ask your friends
to respect your privacy.
Password protect—While remembering passwords may be a challenge
we all face from time to time, it is sometimes better to forget and reset than
have the same password for everything (including your bank information!) This
makes your account for vulnerable to hackers and can lead to potentially irreparable
damage.
Keep in mind: Do not use any information you might be
able to find on your social networks to create your password—pet names,
hobbies, etc. Make sure your password is complex!
Public places mean public spaces—Wi-Fi hotspots are great
for doing your ‘surfing’ on-the-go, but it is important to remember that while
you are uploading, someone may be downloading (your information.) Public
computers (i.e. school, work, library, etc.) are also a great way for people to
gather information about your identity. Beware of keyloggers and malware!
Keep in mind: That when you use public computers you
should disable the “remember me” feature for your passwords, if not you could
be granting access to your information to the next person if you forget to log
out.
Social media is a great tool for both business and pleasure
and if used appropriately can be an effective way to communicate with larger
audiences in smaller crowds. Utilizing social media is a near necessity if your
business is to succeed nowadays, which makes it even more important to protect
yourself and your business from people who might want to harm it.
References:
Pegoraro, R. (2014, January 6). You Better Watch
Out: How to Set Up Your Facebook the Secure Way. Retrieved from Yahoo!
Tech:
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/you-better-watch-out-how-to-set-up-your-facebook-70505754667.html
Stevens, A. (2012, June 20). NLRB’S General Counsel
Releases New Social Media Report Containing Much Needed Guidance on Lawful
Social Media Policies. Retrieved from Social Media Law Brief:
http://blogs.haynesboone.com/index.php/2012/06/firm/some/nlrbs-general-counsel-releases-new-social-media-report-containing-much-needed-guidance-on-lawful-social-media-policies/
