Social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, are amazing resources, allowing you to meet, interact and share with people around the world
However, all this power also brings risk for you, your family, friends and employer. In this newsletter, we explain what these dangers are and how to use these sites securely and safely.
Privacy:
A common concern with social media is protecting your personal information. Potential dangers include that some organizations search social media sites as part of background checks. Embarrassing or incriminating photos or posts, no matter how old, could prevent you from getting hired or promoted. In addition, many universities conduct similar checks for new student applications. Privacy options may not protect you, as these organizations can ask you to “Like” or join their pages or certain posts may be archived on multiple sites.
Cyber attackers can analyse your posts and use them to gain access to your or your organization’s information. For example, they can use information you share to guess the answers to the secret questions that reset your on-line passwords, create targeted email attacks against you (called spear phishing) or call someone in your organization pretending to be you. In addition, these attacks can spill .into the physical world, such as identifying where you work or live.
Criminals or competitors can use any sensitive information you post about your organization against your employer. In addition, your posts can potentially cause reputation harm for your organization. Be sure to check your organization’s policies before posting anything about your job. In addition, some of your social media posts may be monitored.
The best protection is to limit what you post. Yes, privacy options can provide some protection. However, they are often confusing and change frequently without your knowledge. What you thought was private can quickly become public for various reasons. In addition, the privacy of your posts is only as secure as the people you share them with.
The more friends or contacts you share with, the more likely that information will become public. You should assume anything you post can or will .become a public and permanent part of the Internet.
