These days, it seems hard to use social media without feeling like you’re being watched because of the volume of tailored adverts that appear on them. Everyone discusses it. Ads for penguin onesies suddenly start to appear on your social media feeds when you and a friend are chatting about them on Facebook Messenger. However, the reality is that no one is paying attention to what you are saying. You’ve already provided them with all the information they require, so they don’t need to.
A sizable portion of your data is passively given up to social media every time you visit. Anywhere you search on the internet, you’re creating a digital trail that other people can readily access and use. This is also true for other online platforms. More people have become aware of this over time. These days, you can choose not to have your information “tracked” by data brokers and remove it from Google, but what about social media? In what ways do you ensure privacy and safety on “social” media platforms?
Staying Safe And Confidential: It’s crucial to first understand why you should worry before we discuss how to keep your safety and confidentiality on sites like Facebook, Instagram, and X. Scammers can find more than enough information on your social media accounts, which gives them the ability to follow you, steal your data, infect you with ransomware, and attempt many phishing scams.
Data brokers are also using this information to make money. In addition to your phone number and home address, this information may also include your name, age, and occupation. Your safety is at risk regardless of whether it is sold to a legitimate business or not, as any cyber breach will give that information to criminals who can exploit it to their advantage. Last but not least, if you don’t have the proper privacy settings on your social media accounts, you expose yourself to identity theft, objectionable information, and cyberbullying.
How to Preserve Your Security And Privacy:
As previously said, there are a number of measures you can take to keep yourself safe on social media, but they are all under your control. You cannot anticipate your privacy settings to be in your favor in 2024 because data is such a valuable resource for businesses. To them, the more information that a corporation like Facebook or X can gather about you, the better. In this situation, the first action you should take is to fully opt out of data brokers and erase all digital traces from the internet. By doing this, you will be protected from fraudsters and breaches that could result in your data falling into the wrong hands. Data brokers are a $350 billion industry, so this will block them from obtaining your data at the source.
What Preservation of your security and privacy looks like:
Along with a secure network connection, you should also confirm that you are utilizing social media on a safe and secure browser. Because hackers and scammers are constantly searching for methods to gain access to your social media data, make sure your passwords are strong, that two-factor authentication is enabled, and that you update your device’s software on a regular basis.
Make sure you switch off your location, off-platform activities, and anything else you believe exposes you to scammers or cyberstalkers when you check the privacy settings on your social network accounts. In addition, be careful about what you share, review your friend list frequently, report inappropriate stuff, and stay up to date on the most recent malware and phishing scams. It need not be difficult for users to stay safe on social media, but they must take proactive measures to do so. So go ahead and do your best to provide a private and secure experience.
Nowadays, practically all of our internet activities result in businesses gathering personal data about us. For example, when you use social media, shop online, use digital discounts at the store, or browse the internet, personal data is gathered and utilized for a variety of purposes.
Sometimes a business will gather information about you, share it with another, or sell it to another. When you don’t take control, data collecting can be utilized in intrusive ways even while it might be advantageous to you and businesses in ways like connecting with friends, getting directions, or receiving sales promos.
There are numerous methods that you can safeguard your private information and manage its sharing and usage. The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) and other organizations are promoting best practices for data privacy and raising awareness on this Data Privacy Day, also known as Data Protection Day in Europe. Data Privacy Day is observed annually on January 28 to commemorate the anniversary of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty to protect personal data.
A privacy-themed Snapchat filter is being made available by FPF in collaboration with Snap Inc. to raise awareness of the value of data privacy for your networks. Upload photos you’ve taken with our interactive lens to social media and tag them with #FPFDataPrivacyDay2024.
Here are seven simple, quick actions you can do to enhance your mobile device and internet privacy protection.
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Examine your social media privacy settings.
You may limit how data is gathered or used by customizing your privacy settings on several social media platforms. Snap offers a plethora of privacy choices, including the ability to manage who can reach you. To review your preferences, start by visiting the Snap Privacy Center. These options are available here.
Additionally, Snap gives you the ability to examine whatever information they have gathered about you, such as search history and account details. You can examine the data that has been gathered and adjust your settings by downloading your data.
You can choose a number of privacy settings on Instagram, such as who can view your posts, who may like or comment on them, and what happens to them when you delete them. This is where you can view and modify your settings.
You may adjust your specific ad settings, choose between public and private accounts, and do a lot more with TikTok. Here’s where you can check your settings.
You may control the information that other users of the site can see on Twitter/X, as well as customize your ad choices. Here is where you can check your settings.
You may find a variety of privacy settings offered by Facebook here.
You can also check the security and privacy settings for other well-known apps, like Pinterest and BeReal, here. In the event that you have a profile on a well-known dating app like Tinder, Hinge, or Bumble, make sure to carefully verify your privacy settings.
What additional apps are you frequently using on social media? See what configurations they provide!
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Limit Locational Data Share
The majority of social media websites and applications will request access to your location information. Do they require it for a clear reason, such as giving you directions, pointing out acquaintances who live nearby, or possibly locating a store you’re looking for? If not, you are welcome to refuse location data. Be advised that advertisements and suggestions based on places you have recently been to may be personalized using location data. Permitting location services access may also allow location data to be shared with outside parties.
Use the instructions below to see whether an app on an iPhone or Android device has location rights.
iPhone
- Go to “Privacy & Security,” then “Settings,” and finally “Location Services.”
- Go through every app you’ve downloaded to your phone.
- Verify that “Never” or just “While Using” is chosen when you open each.
Android
- Go to “Location,” “Settings,” and finally “App Location Permissions.”
- Choose the app you want to keep from using your location.
- Verify if “Not Allowed” or “Allowed only while in use” is chosen.
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Remember to Update Your Devices & Apps
The only method to guarantee your device is safe from the newest software vulnerabilities is to keep the software updated and current. Keeping your operating system, web browser, and security software up to date is the best defense against a variety of online risks. You can make sure that your operating systems and apps are always up to date by setting up automatic updates on your devices.
- Through the settings app, users may see the current state of their operating systems.
- Go to “Software Update” on an iPhone, or search for the “Security” page in settings on an Android device.
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Use A Manager Of Passwords
For each web-based account, using a strong and secure password contributes to the protection of your personal information from illegal usage. Using a password manager can help with the challenge of remembering passwords for all of your accounts. As you create and use your accounts, password managers record your passwords. They frequently notify you of duplication and recommend changing your password to something stronger.
For instance, you can enable your Mac, iPhone, or iPad to create secure passwords and store them safely in iCloud Keychain for future access if you use one of these devices to register for new accounts and services. This list includes some of the top third-party password managers.
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Permit Two-factor Verification
Your accounts are additionally protected by two-factor authentication. The traditional username and password combo that has been in use for years serves as the first authentication. An email or text message containing a code sent to a personal device serves as the second factor. Malicious actors will find it more difficult to access your accounts with this extra step. While two-factor authentication just takes a few more seconds of your time, it can prevent you from suffering from compromised accounts and their associated headaches. Use an authenticator app as your second factor to be even more secure.
It’s important to keep track of any privacy upgrades and modifications made to the web programs you use on a daily basis, so don’t forget to frequently tweak your settings. By being deliberate about the information you provide online and encouraging others to examine any information they may share, you can protect your data. You can improve the security and privacy of your personal data by changing the settings on your devices, web accounts, and web accounts.
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Use Secure Messaging With End-to-end Encryption
By using secure end-to-end encryption tools like Signal and ProtonMail, you can be sure that the only people who can read your messages are you and the intended receiver. While messages in Telegram are not encrypted by default, make sure to alter your settings before using it. Other apps like WhatsApp and Telegram are also end-to-end encrypted.
Since many of us divulge sensitive information to our friends and family, it’s important to exercise caution about who has access to and how our personal information is shared.
Data Privacy Day is a great opportunity to reconsider our data habits and give this important topic some thought.
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Disabling customized advertisements
Navigating through the settings of your applications will give you control over how businesses use your personal information to advertise to you. Here are some how-to tips that will show you how to quickly and precisely disable ad personalization for several common apps that you might use:
Apple & Android (includes Apple News, the App Store, and more)
- Snap Chat
- Pinterest TikTok
- X on Twitter
Conclusion:
To protect the information, you post on social media from potential dangers, social media security must be implemented.
Take caution when it comes to social media dangers such as fraudulent accounts, social engineering, dubious links, and messages from unidentified sources. Take your time to share information online safely, examine your social media account’s security settings on a regular basis, and restrict access to your accounts in order to keep them safe.
To properly manage and mitigate the consequences of social media threats, you need lastly develop an incident reaction whenever your data is compromised.
If you are aware of the hazards and take preventative measures to lessen them, using the internet can be rather safe.
FAQs:
1. Which five social media security threats are the most serious?
Threats via social media are frequent. Phishing, social engineering, information exposure, false accounts, and malware are the top five social media security concerns.
2. Which social media risk is the greatest?
- Cyberbullying on social media (bullying via digital technology)
- breach of confidentiality.
- theft of identity.
- witnessing inappropriate messages and photos with your kids.
3. How can a social media site be secured?
To find out more about protecting your social media accounts and the typical risks they encounter, keep reading.
- Make Use of Robust, Distinct Passwords.
- Turn on MFA Whenever it’s feasible.
- Modify Your Preferences for Privacy.
- Keep an Eye on Your Account Activity.
- Safeguard Your Email Address.
- Discover How to Recognize Phishing Attempts.
