CyTRAP Labs - Wincurity - smarter protection

There is llittle point in worrying about ID cards, RFID tags and spyware when more and more people are throwing away their privacy anyway when using social networks, such as Facebook or MySpace. Unfotunately, the potential consequences are dire.

Using social networks

most users of social networks have little clue what it means giving up one’s privacy and how painful it can be

we tell you, how you can protect your privacy on Facebook and other socials networks

When using social networks, one has to make sure that one’s privacy is protected. Not doing so can result in great harm and cause one to become a victim downl the line. Worst is that the backlash could happen years after one has made the wrong decision.Providing one’s phone number or e-mail address to the wrong person can result in phone or e-mail harassment a few years later. Unfortunately, at this stage one may have forgotten already whom one might have given this information years back, thereby being left with little recourse against the perpetrator.

BE AWARE AND UNDERSTAND = TAKE ADVANTAGE

> You can choose to be part of a “closed network” consisting of individuals from a verified community (closed versus accessible-to-anyone platform) (e.g., people who go to the same school only);

> By default, only users from your verified communities (confirmed through a working e-mail address on a particular network or by invitation) have access to your profile;

> You may choose to block your name and network from being searched by anyone outside the type of network to which you belong (e.g., high school, college, company, regional, etc.);

> Suspect or improperly verified users may be flagged for investigation (at FAcebook maybe but more likely than not it might be too late for you not to get hurt).

THE ABOVE IS CHILD’S PLAY OR BASIC - GET REAL TAKING THE STEPS AS OUTLINED BELOW

A diverse set of privacy options allows you to block access to address or contact information - BLOCK IT EVEN WHEN USING A VERIFIED COMMUNITY to avoid stalkers

- You can block access to information by anyone other than verified friends or friends of friends (unfortunately, this does not make sure that your friend does not pass on the information by accident to a potential stalker);

- Turn off the automatic streaming of your online activities through a news feed to your friends (why should your friends know when you shop for a particular item)

- You may and SHOULD FOR SURE completely hide your profile from being viewed (since your friends know who you are);

When Online Gets Out of Line: Privacy - Make an Informed Online Choice

FACEBOOK IS OUT OF LINE - SO WHY USE IT?

Facebook knows way too much about you and your surfing habits including whom you talk to and what you shop already.

Hence, if you need to use it use it carefully by doing the following:

1) Following the steps as outlined above

2) Using a pseudonym as a screen name and not the screen name you would want to use in 10 years…. you will most likely have to abandon it at some point.
3) Do not reveal any information that you would neither want your teacher to know nor your siblings or parents - it is too gross at what can happen with your information when it gets in the wrong hands

if you cannot see the above image, click here don’t allow anybody to make a picture of you that might cause you grief or embarrassment later - getting a job, with your lover, dad or mother

4) Remember, once information is on the Internet it will stay there and the guy you are having a crush on will find it as will your potential employer — will they really like what they see?

5) Using social networks is like spending too much time in front of your TV, do something else, see your friends and have a laugh, go for a walk or visit the movies with your pals …. the world is less likely to know that you made a fool of yourself at the local restaurant last night than when you do it online on Facebook.

6) Deliberate vagueness should be the rule (I live near New York - no more no less), and we should think carefully about how much people can deduce by considering many factors (telling one the school one attends or which grade in case of school children is already too much).

See also here:
the wrong way - online privacy and social networks

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This entry was posted on Thursday, December 27th, 2007 at 19:03 and is filed under

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