Social media has become such an integral part of our lives that approximately 50% of the world’s population uses some form of social media. Social media allows us to connect with family, friends and like-minded individuals, share news and experiences, as well as stay up-to-date on current events. It has also become a platform for businesses to promote their products and services.
There can be no denying that social media has changed the way we communicate and interact with each other. However, there are some negatives associated with its use. For example, social media can be a huge time waster, it can also be addicting and some people have even been known to develop anxiety or depression as a result of their social media use.
We can also say that the positives of social media far outweigh the negatives. Social media has brought us closer together, given us a way to connect with people all over the world, and has even been used as a tool for social and political change. It has also given a voice to those who might not otherwise be heard.
Although social media can be a great way to stay connected with our loved ones, remember that it is not always an accurate representation of who we are as individuals. Just because we share something online doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily true to our offline selves – so don’t be afraid to be yourself, even if it doesn’t always match up with your online persona.
In today’s digital world, social media is an important part of our lives. It’s a great way to stay connected with friends and family, but there are security risks as hackers and attackers try to steal personal information. That’s why it’s important to know how you can protect your social media accounts from attacks.
No matter what social media platform you’re using, it’s important to take precautions to ensure your safety and security. Here are 5 ways to protect your social media accounts and yourselves by extension:
1. Don’t open links
In order to avoid clicking on suspicious links, it is important to be aware of phishing scams. Phishing is a method where cyber criminals send out a mass email containing an attachment or link that appears to be from a legitimate source, but is actually a malicious website. When clicked, this link can install malware programs on your computer or redirect you to a fraudulent website that looks identical to a legitimate website, in order to steal your personal information.
There are a few key things to look out for that can help you identify a phishing email or website. First, check the URL of the website you are on – if it looks suspicious or is misspelt, it could be a fake. Second, be wary of any emails that contain attachments or links, especially if you were not expecting them. Finally, if you are ever asked to input personal or financial information on a website, make sure that the website is secure (https://) and that you see a padlock icon in the address bar. If you are ever unsure about a website or email, you can always contact the company or person directly to verify its legitimacy.
Don’t continue or click any links if the sender is asking for personal information, there are grammatical errors, the imagery or layout looks fake, and/or the email address seems odd. Also, take a look at the URL. If it starts with “HTTPS,” that extra “S” means the site is secure and there is some level of encryption. Most browsers also have a padlock symbol next to HTTPS sites to show that they’re secure.
Social media phishing is a type of cyberattack that occurs through platforms such as Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter. The attacker’s goal is to steal personal data or gain control of your social media account. The information gathered by the hackers can include social media login credentials, credit card information, and personal details about you. This information can then be used to launch other scams and attacks. This is especially dangerous if it’s a business account being hacked because the hacker could then send out spam messages to your entire list of followers, which could tarnish your reputation or cause potential clients to lose faith in your online presence.
2. Set up 2FA
Two-Factor Authentication or 2FA adds an extra layer of protection to online accounts. 2FA requires an additional login credential in order to gain access to an account.
Having a second credential is like an extra key to your house that only you have. In the event that you lose one set of keys, you always have a backup. If someone were to try and break into your house, the chances of them succeeding are much lower if they don’t have both sets of keys. The same goes for your online accounts. If you have Two-Factor Authentication set up and one of your credentials is compromised, the hacker still won’t be able to access your account because they would need both pieces of information that only you have. This greatly improves the security of your accounts.
Two-factor authentication requires you to enter a code from a text message or an authentication app on your phone in addition to your password when logging in. This makes it much more difficult for someone to hack into your account, even if they have your password. If you’re not already using two-factor authentication, be sure to enable it in your account settings.
2FA is becoming increasingly common, especially for accounts that contain sensitive information. If you’re looking to add an extra layer of security to your online accounts, 2FA is a great option to consider.
In order to verify your identity and log in to any social media account backed by 2FA, you will need to use your mobile phone. This involves having a phone number and/or email address on hand. When a new device or an Internet Protocol (I.P) address tries to log in, you will need to click on a text or emailed link, or type in a number sent by an authenticator app. This will then prompt the account owner of any log in from anywhere else in the world.
Aside from linking your phone number to your two-factor authentication, a very effective way is to use an authenticator app. This is helpful in times of no cellular access. Some authenticator apps include Duo, Google authenticator and Authy.
Here are links that can help you set up 2FA:
- FB: https://www.facebook.com/help/148233965247823
- IG: https://help.instagram.com/566810106808145
- LN: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/544/turn-two-step-verification-on-and-off?lang=en
3. Use strong passwords and don’t share
Choosing a strong and secure password is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure the security of your account. A strong password should be at least eight characters long and include a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. It should be different from your other passwords and should not be easily guessed. Endeavor to use passwords that are difficult to guess, even by those who know you very well.
Avoid using popular phrases that you share with others. It’s important to use passwords that are hard to guess, even by your closest friends and family. Avoid using popular phrases or jargon that you share with others – the more unique your password, the better. When creating a password, try to use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Also, try to change your password often to keep your account secure. Choose a password that you will be able to remember easily.
It’s important to keep your passwords confidential by not writing them down in easily accessible places like diaries or on social media platforms. Even though some social media platforms allow you to use your account to sign in to other apps, we advise against doing this because it’s not as secure.
If you’re like most people, you probably use the same login credentials for all of your social media accounts but this could be putting your accounts at risk. Hackers who gain access to your Facebook account can easily use the same login information to access your other social media accounts. This means that they can view your private messages, post on your behalf, and even steal your personal information.
To protect yourself from this, it’s important to use different login credentials for each of your social media channels. That way, even if a hacker does gain access to one of your accounts, they won’t be able to access your other accounts. So, make sure to use a unique username and password for each social media app you use.
4. Be careful with granting third party access
It’s a good idea to take inventory of your social media accounts every once in a while, to see if there are any third-party apps that you have granted access to your personal social media account. This is important because you want to be sure that only the applications that you trust have access to your account. To do this, simply go to the settings page of your social media account and check the list of applications that have access to your account. If you see any that you don’t recognize or trust, revoke their access. This will help to keep your account safe and secure.
For example, some websites will only let you log in using a social media account. Before you input any of your personal information, it’s important to make sure you understand what information they are accessing from your profile. This is important because hackers can use this as a way to access your account if there’s anything fishy going on with the website. If there are any social media accounts that you don’t use anymore, it’s best to delete them.
Checking the “apps and websites” section in your settings on Facebook (or Twitter, or Instagram) lets you see which third-party applications have access to your account information. This is important for two reasons: first, it allows you to revoke access to any apps that you no longer use or trust; and second, it helps you understand which apps have access to your personal data. Reviewing this list regularly is a good way to protect your privacy online.
5. Connect to only trusted networks
Any device that is connected to a Wi-Fi network could be at risk of being hacked or compromised. This is because Wi-Fi networks are typically not as secure as wired networks. Hackers can easily set up a Wi-Fi network that appears to be legitimate, but is actually a trap. Once a device is connected to this network, the hacker can then access the device and any data that is being transmitted over the network. This is why it is important to be careful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, and to make sure that the network is legitimate and secure before connecting.
Free Wi-Fi is widely available in many different public spaces, and millions of people use these networks regularly. Wi-Fi is a great way to stay connected, but it’s important to remember that not all networks are secure. When using Wi-Fi, be sure to connect to a network that you trust and avoid using public networks for sensitive information like online banking or shopping.
Cybercriminals can’t read your passwords if you’re on a secure Wi-Fi network, but they can download malware that will give them access to that information. Hackers can also trick people into connecting to a fake network by naming it something similar to the establishment’s network, for example “Coffee Café.” When users connect to the fake network, the hacker then has access to all of the data on their device.
We hope this article on how to protect your social media accounts has been helpful. While there is no 100% foolproof way to protect your social media accounts from attack, we have highlighted 5 security tips you can use to help protect your accounts. Social media accounts are more than just social, they are businesses as well. This means that you should be diligent about how you handle your accounts and protect them.
