Protect Yourself From Identity Theft On Facebook
Identity theft is the fasted growing crime in America.
A new case is reported every three seconds.
Social networking sites, such as Facebook, have become a prime target for ID theft predators.
Beware Of Inbox Messages
Think before you click on a link in your inbox messages. Links that seem strange may lead you to a page that could download all your Facebook profile information. This malicious link can then spread to all your Facebook friends as well.
Do Not Use a Weak Password
A password should have at least eight characters. Avoid simple names or words. Use mixed upper and lower-case letters or numbers in your password.
Does Your Profile Show Your Complete Birth Date?
This is an ideal target for identity thieves. It is a piece of the puzzle to obtain more information about you. You can remove or change your birth date preference on the "edit your profile" page. For maximum privacy don't use the month, day, and year when posting your birth date.
Do Not Overlook Useful Privacy Controls
Your Facebook profile can be set to be viewed by your friends, friends of friends, or everyone. Your profile will be more secure by not sharing with everyone. Do not add contact information to your profile, such as phone number or address. This is private information that you would not want hackers to have access to.
Posting That You'll Be Away From Home
You might as well post a sign on your front door that says "No One's Home". Post your comments and photos about your awesome trip after you get home.
Letting Search Engines Find You
Letting Search Engines Find You
Don't let ID thieves find your Facebook profile by searching the web. In your privacy settings be sure the box for public search is disabled.
Permitting Youngsters to Use Facebook
Facebook limits its members to ages 13 and over. But children younger than that do use it. If you have a child or teenager on Facebook, the best way to provide oversight is to become one of their online friends. Use your e-mail address as the contact for their account so that you receive their notifications and monitor their activities.
Using A Community Computer
Don't forget to logout of Facebook when using a community computer. Leaving your account open can be an invitation to ID theft predators. Share This on Facebook
