Social media apps have become an integral part of everyday life for modern students. Although multimedia networking platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are incredibly useful resources for arranging both social gatherings and academic meetings, in recent years we have seen a worrying number of students becoming victims of social media scams. Concerned about protecting your personal information whilst online? Then listed below are 5 of the best social media security tips for students;
Update security software
First and foremost - all social media apps require an Internet connection. As such, installing comprehensive anti-virus software can be a simple yet highly effective method of protecting your personal information from theft. By installing this state of the art security software and ensuring your Internet browser, operating system and software are kept up to date you can prevent your privacy from being breached whilst you visit your favourite social networking channels.
Change your password
One of the best ways to prevent your social media profiles from being infiltrated is to change your passwords on a regular basis. Use different passwords for each account and avoid using passwords such as your date of birth which could be easily guessed. In fact, you could even use a password generator to create a completely random password containing a series of numbers, capital letters and symbols that would be difficult for hackers to guess.
Scrutinise your privacy settings
Before you post personal information via social media you should pay close attention to the privacy policies of all the social media channels you use. By doing so, you can customize your privacy settings so that you can control the types of information that each of your contacts will be able to access. Given that an XXXBios article revealed 1 in 25 Americans have had someone post an image without their permission (or threaten to do so), you can never be too careful about who you share your personal information with whilst online.
Be wary with friend requests
Following on from the previous point, you should exercise caution with regards to the types of users that you allow to access your social media profiles. Unless you know and trust a person in the real world, you should seriously consider whether you feel comfortable about allowing them to view your personal social networking channels online because they may be a fake account with malicious intent.
Protect your devices
According to an Impact Brand article, 80% of social media time is spent on a mobile device such as a smart phone or a tablet. As such, you should ensure that all of these devices are password protected. Similarly, if you check your social media profiles on an external computer, such as a library desktop, then you should double check that you have logged out of all your accounts once you have finished viewing them.
Avoid giving out personal information
One of the best ways that you can protect yourself whilst using social media is to avoid posting personal information such as your home address, financial details, phone number or place of work. Posting this information attracts the attention of identity thieves who prey upon social media accounts; especially students who may be living away from home for the first time. By remaining vigilant over your social media security protocols you can safeguard your personal data and prevent yourself from falling victim to opportunistic hackers and cybercriminals.
