Image by Koreshky

When it comes to your involvement in social networking, what do you need to take into consideration in order to protect your identity and privacy?

According to Soft Tree Blog the security firm, Trend Micro, has been “researching malicious practices on facebook, and has discovered  numerous rogue apps on the social networking site.“  Apparently the apps appear legitimate just like phishing attackers do.  Be advised to just be careful of what you click in order to protect your privacy and even your identity.  You can never be too careful.

When it comes to engaging on Twitter, it is advised to change your password as often as possible to avoid any hackers and attackers from obtaining your personal information.  There have been a number of security breaches with twitter since 2008,  but Twitter has supposedly taken extra measure to ensure the privacy and protection of all their users.  Just recently a British soccer player star sued Twitter over privacy issues. You can read the full story over at wired.com. Twitter declined any comment on the legal proceeding.

Myspace is a social network I don’t hear too much of anymore and probably because of other social network giants taking the spotlight. (eh hem, no need to name which social networks)  What kind of security concerns should be addressed with this once thriving social network?  There is currently nothing to report but like any networking site requiring your password, be sure to update it at least every few days.  Any strange apps or links?  Stay away from them.  Always go into your privacy settings to control what you want to be protected.  If you know of any recent security concerns with Myspace that I am currently missing, please feel free to share them to bring us up to speed.

I know that there are many other social networking sites out there but thought I would focus on three of the main sites used on a daily basis.  To become more knowledgable of the site you are engaged in, be sure to read their privacy policies, etc.  Also and I will say it again and again, go into the privacy settings and look over what it all entails.  Too many people don’t take advantage of these features and then complain that they have been a victim of privacy invasion.  The truth and reality of it all is simply this;  If you don’t want to take the time to secure your privacy on these social networks, I would advise that you don’t bother with having an account.  You will most likely get hacked and all kinds of negative things will start taking place.  Be social network smart!

Image: Wikimedia commons

Image by Kernigh

What social network do you currently fancy?  Facebook?  Myspace?  The list could go on but let’s focus on these social networks and our privacy.  If we took the time to actually go through all of the privacy settings would we still be protected?  There is really no definite answer unless you are the creator of the social network itself.  The minute we sign up for an account with any of these sites we are risking giving off personal information to strangers that could potentially do whatever they want with it.  Sounds scary doesn’t it?  What if these creators are frauds or identity thieves? It’s definitely not impossible.

According to Erica Naone of Technology Review, “social networks lead a double life.”  How so?  Erica is correct in saying that these sites encourage us to share as much information as possible but at the same time they have to be safeguarded how we share this information.  Again, to my first concern why do creators encourage us to do so much yet all of a sudden there is encouragement to set certain privacy settings?   I guess the only way we could actually feel 100 percent safe is to not sign up for any social network account and do not participate in any online communities.  This may be easy for some people that could care less for the ever changing and advancing technology world but for those of us who use the Internet frequently this may not be an option.  Connecting with friends and building professional networks is almost a demand of life.  What would we do without it?

I guess the only way to know or remotely trust that our privacy is truly being protected is to  use all of the privacy settings available within the social network.  You can never be too safe.  As an individual just limit yourself with your personal activities on these sites and you should be okay.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Source: Technology Review

I know my information is never 'safe' online, but what should I pay attention to to be safe?

I know my name, email phone and address are ‘out there’. Obviously, otherwise I wouldn’t be inundated with contacts from marketers, wrong numbers and spam email.

But what can someone really do to me with this information? When I narrowed it down, I realized there are really 3 things that matter to me in terms of privacy.

1. I want to control which marketing messages I get. No waste. If you are gathering my information on the web, you better not be selling it, trading it or abusing it somehow.

2. I must monitor my credit, bank accounts and other pertinent information. If I see something out of the ordinary, I need to take responsibility for it, or contact authorities.

3. I should keep personal information, like my full name, address or kids pets and other loved ones off of the public social networking sites. People are weird sometimes!