Security Issues with Social Networking Websites

Social Networking for Teens and Adults

Social networking is no longer just for teens and young adults. In fact it's become a mainstream activity for people of all age groups. These types of websites provide a great place to:

• Exchange personal information
• Promote a business or product
• Share photos and videos
• Create a blog
• Use private messaging to communicate with others who share your interests

The Downside: Security Issues With Social Networking Websites

No matter which of the social networking sites you visit, they all encourage the exchange of information. That's what they are designed for. Originally, the intent was to connect people with people of similar interests. When posting personal information at one of these sites, it's important to note that your information can be viewed by the entire world. From this perspective, it’s important to be aware of the security issues that come with networking online.

Social Bookmarking Sites

Social bookmarking takes social networking in another direction. For those who have heard of it, but don't quite know what it does, it's a powerful tool used to promote a website. Social bookmarking sites include:

• del.icio.us
• digg.com
• Diigo.com
• Propeller.com
• Reddit.com
• Technorati.com
• Twitter.com

This list represents just a small portion of the social bookmarking sites on the Internet. These sites share lists of user-created Internet bookmarks, which are links to articles users want to share with other web surfers. These sites are are rapidly growing in popularity.

Along with this growth is the occurrence of identity theft among the social bookmarking users. How does this happen? Every social networking site has a profile page. Security issues with social networking websites dealing with identity theft are centered on these profiles. What people forget when they sign up for a social bookmarking site is that they are sharing their personal profiles with countless strangers. Strangers who visit these sites have access to any information you publish about yourself, inlcuding your:

• date of birth
• complete name
• contact information (including email and phone number)
• location
• personal photos

You have to use good judgment when deciding what information to share about yourself on these sites. Problems arise when users don't take advantage of the privacy settings offered by the sites.

Forums, Blogs and Chats

Forums are probably one of the oldest forms of social networking on the internet. Relationships are developed and a sense of camaraderie kindles. Amid the friendly banter it is easy to forget that your posts can be viewed by others. If the site you post on is not password protected, what you have to say is available for the world to see.

For example, if you tell your friends that you'll be gone for 10 days on a cruise, this may seem harmless enough, but if this information falls into the wrong hands it can be devastating. This warning hold true for blogs and chats as well. If identity thieves get their hands on your personal information they can pretend to be you online. Potential burglars actively mine for information about when people won’t be home. It makes it easier to break in without the risk of being caught.

Online Precautions to Stay Safe

Privacy Settings

When creating an online profile, use privacy settings to limit who can view your information. If a site doesn't provide privacy settings, don't use it.

Personal Photo

Instead of using your personal photo, upload a stock photo or a picture of your favorite flower or pet. Placing your personal photo online provides a thief with a digital photo that can be used along with all your other personal information.

Where You Live

Instead of posting the exact location of where you live, choose the biggest city nearby.

Your Name

Instead of using your legal name, use a nickname or pseudo identity

Vacation Plans

Don't ever talk about vacation plans or business trips online until after you return home.