DOS AND DON’TS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Avoid using same passwords that you use at work on a social networking site.

Limit usage of social networking sites to personal use only. Always assume everyone in the world will be able to see what you’re writing even if the site limits your post to your friends exclusively.

Try to avoid mentioning where you work, so that if you mention something you thought innocent (but that might be valuable information for hackers) they will not know who to target.

Be wary of what you’re posting, if you use your pet’s name as a password anywhere do not post about it on your social networking site naming it.

Do not log on to your social network page from public computers such as Internet cafés where someone might have installed a key logger and would later get access to your credentials.

Do not automatically trust that posts are from who they claim they are; if your workmate sends you a private message asking for some confidential information first verify that he/she did really send you that message as their account might have been compromised.

Do not send confidential information through a social networking site even if someone who has legitimate access to that information asks you to. Beware of what links you click and what software you download and install.

Do not trust links/software sent by your friends implicitly as they themselves might not be aware it includes malware or their account might have been compromised. Always be sceptical and wary. If some one asks to be friends on a social networking site and the profile appears to match a work mate, check personally with that person before accepting him as a friend, because he could be an imposter.

Also be sceptical of any offers or prizes you might have been told you won, they might actually be phishing attacks.

Ensure your computer is up to date and has good antivirus protection; social networking sites are frequent targets of malware attacks.