Insurance companies warn: the number of crimes committed on social networks is steadily increasing. Placing personal information in the public domain increases the risk of becoming a victim of scammers. Moreover, it can even cause job loss or a tarnished reputation.
Telling the first strangers you meet about yourself everything that comes into your head is not a good idea, nevertheless, millions of people around the world do it through the social networks Vkontakte, Odnoklassniki, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.
At the same time, most of us are still not aware of the consequences of their careless behavior on the Internet. By indicating our location on our page on social networks, we ourselves give a “tip” to potential robbers. An attacker can easily calculate your daily routine, and "inadvertently" find himself in the right place in the right place.
So, in New Hampshire there was a case of robbery, which brought the victim a loss of 200 thousand dollars. The reason for the robbery was a careless post of a man in which he himself told when he was going to go on vacation. It’s good that the poor guy didn’t think of telling the whole world that he left the keys to the apartment under the rug ...
There is also a risk of becoming a victim of persecution or violence. Therefore, for your own safety, you should plan personal meetings with virtual friends only in crowded places.
By sharing frank stories about our experiences and personal life on social networks, we ourselves make it easier for those who want to ingratiate themselves with us and arouse sympathy.
If you don't want to become a victim of scammers, keep your mouth shut. Public sincerity can make you a victim of cyber harassment, bullying and bullying.
And a photo posted in the public domain can destroy a reputation, a career, and even lead to litigation.
In general, the main advice that experts give regarding safe behavior on social networks is to think carefully before writing anything on your page, because someone will certainly read it!
Rules for safe communication in social networks
It's one thing to call friends or family members and let them know that you will be late at work, at a party, at a bar, etc. today. It's quite another thing to tell a few hundred people about it, many of whom you've never met in real life.
2. Beware of posting your personal information online
Posting on the Internet the details of your personal life can lead to the fact that attackers will know almost more about you than your next of kin. A potential criminal will collect information about you bit by bit, and for your safety, you should not simplify this task for him.
3. Do not spread information about other people
A thief who plans to rob one of your friends or relatives will be grateful to you for providing information about his potential victim. Are you going to party with your friends until the morning? Do not tell the whole world when, where and with whom you are going. Share your impressions and beautiful photos the next day.
4. Don't report expensive purchases you make
Who doesn't like to show off expensive purchases and new clothes to their friends on a social network? Robbers seek out potential victims who have money and expensive brand new gadgets. When you carelessly talk about expensive purchases, you give a signal to potential robbers that it would be nice to rummage through your apartment or car.
Robbery is a risky business. It is much easier for criminals to break into someone else's home when the owners are not at home: take what you want and leave calmly. Do not write about when you are going to leave home. Moreover, it is not worth spreading about what you are going to and leaving the house unattended.
6. Don't share information about your daily schedule
The more burglars know about your daily activities, the easier it is for them to plan their entry into your apartment or house. In addition, knowing about your usual movements, an attacker can watch for you in a deserted place.
7. Do not write any information about children
Remember! Children's safety comes first! The less you write about children - your own and others - the better for them. Do not talk about their habits, hobbies, location, friends, class schedule, clubs they attend.
8. Meet new friends from the virtual world only in crowded places
You may have been texting this "friend" for a long time and it seems to you that you know your online friend very well. Actually, this is an illusion. On the network, there is always a possibility that your interlocutor is not who he claims to be.
Therefore, for the first meeting, always choose public places. This will not only protect you from possible troubles, but also reassure the person you are going to meet.
9. Don't give details that cyber bullies and trolls can use against you.
Don't share details about yourself on social media, and don't post photos that someone else might use to tease you. Online bullying can be just as painful as it is in real life, if not worse. After all, everything that happens on the Web is recorded and stored here forever. And rumors and jokes are spreading at the speed of an avalanche. And the scale is worldwide!
10. Don't Post Anything That Can Harm Your Reputation
A stupid joke, an inappropriate comment, a photo of a scam, political disputes, stupid antics - thanks to modern technology and social networks, you now have more opportunities than ever to tarnish your own reputation. Even if your wife or boss does not see the "wrong" post, it is likely that there will be those willing to take advantage of your vulnerability.
11. Do not insult or slander your friends, relatives, acquaintances, colleagues, and so on.
There was a precedent in the US when a teacher won a $3 million lawsuit against a student for writing on a social network that the teacher was a pedophile. Even if things don't go that far in your case. Remember: you will have to answer for slander and spreading rumors one way or another.
“Truth is in wine,” the Romans used to say. Few things so liberates and provokes unnecessary frankness as. And it is better if one of your close friends listens to your frankness face-to-face, and not read by a hundred unfamiliar people.
Hello dear readers of my . Today we will look at the main rules of safety in social networks.
Today, social networks are becoming more and more popular, every day new users register in such networks as Vkontakte, Odnoklassniki, Facebook, Twitter and others. In social networks, people can communicate, share photos and videos. And the more popular such resources become, the more interest scammers show in them, and the more dangerous it becomes to use them. In order not to run into hackers, spammers and scammers who steal personal data, you need to know the safety rules in social networks.
- When registering on a social network, it is better to come up with a random password consisting of at least 6-7 characters. The password for your social network account and the password for your email should not be the same, this will make it difficult for hackers. And if the passwords are different, then you can send the password from your account to the mail. It is best if you have different passwords for each site on the network.
- To access social networks, use only common and proven browsers. Don't forget to install updates for your operating system and browser as well. The same goes for a firewall and antivirus - all of these precautions will help you increase your level of security on social networks.
- Never accept or install unknown files from people you don't know. Do not open suspicious messages that contain links to unknown resources, and never follow these links. Scammers can promise you anything, including photos of naked celebrities, do not fall for their bait.
- Do not install social networking apps that claim to allow you to find a job, download music, videos, and more unless you are sure the apps are safe. Often, during installation, they ask for a username and password from your account - all these are tricks of hackers who are trying to gain access to your account.
- Try not to access your social media accounts from other people's computers. Even if you trust this person, it may happen that there is a Trojan on his computer that will send your account information to the hacker.
- Be careful about posting information about yourself on social networks. Often, scammers hack into accounts using the "Forgot your password?" button, which prompts you to answer a security question. These questions are standard, and the user himself inadvertently places the answers to them on his page. Therefore, if the social network allows, it is better to come up with your own, original secret question.
- Sometimes, messages supposedly sent to you by your friends can be sent by scammers who have hacked into their accounts. Therefore, if the message seems suspicious to you or contains a suspicious link, contact a friend directly or by phone to make sure that the message really came from him.
- Prevent social networks from scanning your email address book so as not to reveal your friends' addresses.
- To access a social network, use the address bar of your browser directly or use a bookmark. If you go to a social network through a random link from the Internet, you can end up on a fake site that steals personal data.
- Keep track of who you add as friends. Often scammers try in this way to find out data that is available only to your friends.
- Try not to use social media in your workplace. A social network can become a source of viruses or spyware that can damage office equipment or lead to the loss of information that is a trade secret of your company.
So, we have considered the main rules of safety in social networks. Follow these simple rules and you'll be fine.
Anecdote on the subject:
Mom, why did you blacklist me?!
- You sent spam
- What more spam, maam!!
- Well, it seems .. "throw it on the balance sheet", "I need a new jacket", "will you give money for a movie tomorrow?" divorce, in short.
Varvara Ermilova
Copywriter, Web Architecture
This article is based on a note by Kevan Lee, published recently on the service blogBuffer. It examines popular social networks and those that are practically not used for commercial purposes in Russia. The article seemed curious to me, and, discarding the very obvious things, I present to your attention a small collection of etiquette rules for working in social networks.So what are the rulesSMEworth adhering to, and which ones can be safely violated?
For all social networks
1. Create posts several times a day, but make intervals of a couple of hours.
Studies have shown that flooding is one of the main reasons for unfriending, unfollowing, and leaving groups.
2. Reply to all comments as quickly as you can.
In Western online magazines, we are unlikely to see recommendations on how to properly promote your brand on VKontakte. However, it is the most visited site in Russia and one of the best places to build a reputation. What rules apply to this social network? I am sure that you have already read more than one study on this topic, so I will not describe the already known facts, but only summarize.
In contact with
All of the above general rules apply to the VKontakte network. Namely:
- Publish several posts a day without clogging the feed.
- Promptly respond to all questions, feedback and comments.
- Don't forget about hashtags. In my opinion, their optimal number is 3-5# per post.
- Share both your own and other people's content, following the 80/20 rule.
- Choose a communication style and language based on the age and social status of the target audience. Of course, if your target audience is made up of users over 25 years old, it is the official business style that will give your company the necessary weight in the eyes of subscribers. If your products or services are aimed at teenagers, young people or students, try to talk to them in their language.
- The last rule is controversial. I'm talking now about "cheating" likes, subscribers, reposts, votes, etc. Someone actively uses this, someone considers such methods below the level of their professional dignity. Of course, the artificial creation of activity in the public has both pluses and minuses. But even the most interesting and useful content is not so easy to distribute “for real”. In my practice of developing the VKontakte group, I have had occasion to resort to the help of various services and, perhaps, I will talk about this next time. In the meantime, let's dwell on what to wind up or not to wind up - the personal choice of each individual specialist.
What is the conclusion of the article as a whole? Kevan Lee touched on a topic that is relevant for many Internet marketers. Some of his unspoken rules, of course, are well known to SMM specialists and ordinary users, but I hope that a collection of such rules may be useful in your work or at least be informative.
Which of the above rules do you use? Which, in your opinion, can and should be violated?
Reading the article will take: 8 min.Where he was yesterday, where he is going today and where he / she will be tomorrow - you can easily find out from the social network account. Previously, as it was - you need to follow, conduct outdoor activities at home-work, establish social ties ... wiretapping, again. All in the past. User accounts in social networks, dating sites, etc. - ideal if you are ... a detective, a bailiff, a collector or a scammer.
But hunters of someone else's personal life know all the possibilities of social networks. We will deal with the principles of personal self-defense in social networks. To prevent outsiders from learning too much. Berezhenogo you know who protects.
1: Read the user agreement
When registering, you fill in the required sections of the account, at the end there is a point of agreement with the terms of the user agreement of this social network. You know about this item - you definitely saw it a bunch of times when registering on various Internet resources! What do you usually do - stupidly click the "agree with all the conditions" button without reading the conditions themselves? You really are. What if something like “any data and materials entered by the user are the undisputed property of the resource” is indicated there?
The above wording means that the owners of the social network (site) can do whatever they want with the content you publish (posted in the account). Merge scammers, for example. Or even worse - to sell directly to the yellow press all the photos and videos from the “hidden” social account from prying eyes. And you won’t sue them - you yourself clicked on “agree”.
You are not under interrogation - do not give all the details of your life
2: Minimum personal data in the account
"Where did you study" - a school-university, but without a detailed direction of the institute's course of study. You are not getting a job and there is no need to indicate all the details of life. Social programs offer those who wish to indicate friends, girlfriends, husbands, wives and children - why do you need to do this? You know your family and relatives very well, they know you too. And foreign people do not need to know about your family and friendships.
In general, it is worth filling out only the mandatory items in the “About Me” section. which are marked with an asterisk. If any social network requires more "mandatory" information, you should not register in it.
3: The fewer photo-videos, the better
Modern gadgets - smartphones and tablets - along with affordable Internet connection facilitate social communication in modern society. And make users stupid naive. The fashion for selfie photos, videos and text descriptions of your life in social accounts, and in detailed details, is the modern norm. Stupid "norm", by the way.
Does the "magic life" of media idols from Instagram, Twitter or Facebook beckon you? Not worried about exposing your personal life? In vain. Diverse “stars” have security guards, lawyers, and profitable agreements with social networks (they post themselves naked for free, of course!).
4: Never give your home address
In the heading "where you live" it is enough to enter the country and city. Without a district, a street and, moreover, a house-apartment. Some social networks allow you to "hide" the entered full address from outside users (unregistered or not recognized as a friend). It's certainly a sweetheart feature. But why enter your real address at all?
Addresses on the Internet are posted by users who do business online. And you do not need to tell the entire Internet the address.
5: It's better to have 100 rubles than 100 friends (such a time)
Before accepting another confirmation of "friendship" on social networks, carefully study the account of the person asking for "friendship". Especially if you don't know him from a past life. If the account of a new “friend” is closed from access to “non-friends” and you cannot form a preliminary opinion about this character, immediately refuse friendship. Nafig need.
The higher the well-being of a certain person, the less “ordinary” friends he has - this is a fact. Business partners, relatives are no deeper than parents-sisters-brothers - they are in “social” friends, this is understandable. But if some kindergarden-school-university acquaintances beg for friendship… And you don’t really remember them, and you didn’t communicate with them in the past practically… Do you need such friends?
6: Personal Safety on Dating Sites
Finding a girl-boyfriend on dating sites is easier than in real life - the circle of potential “acquaintances” is wider. However, sadistic swindlers of various colors also use dating sites as hunting grounds.
It doesn't matter if a paid or free dating resource - "dark" characters are available on any similar resource. Therefore, the first meetings with a persistent friend-girlfriend should take place only in a safe zone - in crowded places, moreover, chosen by you.
Photos of gold tsatsek and packs of bucks are just African American show-offs
7: Welfare on display
Photos of your expensive jewelry, gadgets, antiques, etc. posting on your social account page is stupid to say the least. Yes, it acts on girlfriends in terms of envy, however ... it also attracts the attention of thieves. From their point of view, photos of gold trinkets and premium gadgets are a direct invitation to rob you. Therefore, you should not post photos of your values on social networks.
8: Credit card number
In general, this is a classic recommendation - do not indicate your credit card number anywhere except for secure payment systems. Where are you going to pay for anything purchased. In short, only clinical idiots publish or share their credit card details on social networks.
Make sure this box is not checked
9: Login to the social account without a tick on "remember me"
The luxury of logging in/out of a social network while saving a password is available only on a personal computer or smartphone that belongs to you personally. If the computer is shared (for all households), located at the workplace in the office, or generally random - in an Internet cafe or at a friend's house - you should not leave your password and login in it. Make sure that the “remember me” checkbox is not checked when entering a login-password (it is usually active by default) - they will not be saved on this PC. This simple measure will protect your social account from being hijacked, or used in spamming, or personal data (content) theft.
It's easy to uncheck the "remember me" box - it's hard to fix the situation after an outsider got into your account.
10: Don't post your location on a social network
Some social media users find pleasure in constantly indicating their current location. Following the slogan of Zhulvern's "Nautilus" - "mobilis in mobile" - these people move through cities and towns without leaving the social network, constantly reporting their current location and next location. It will not be difficult for criminals to choose a convenient moment and rob the house / apartment of such a user. "A fool doesn't need a knife..."
11: Your phone number is not for everyone
You don't need to publicize your phone number. Unless, of course, the social account is used by you for commercial purposes. Delivering calls from network "trolls" or scammers - do you need it?
New gadgets or fashion accessories at half price? They are stolen.
12: “Beneficial” trade offers coming through social networks
Diverse sales and profitable offers are pouring at you from everywhere on the Internet, this is the norm of our days. So why not take advantage of direct appeals from sellers of goods who write to you from their social accounts? And you should not do this, especially if the price is really low - these are thieves, they sell the goods like that.
The police will confiscate your purchase after the purchase and will not return the money. Because it is necessary to buy in legal stores, and not from network dealers of stolen goods!
13: Periodically change your passwords to social media accounts
The password for each of your social media accounts must be changed at least once a year. And with the addition of characters to the alphanumeric series. And don't use the same password across multiple accounts. Otherwise, "hackers" will steal your social page or spam through it.
14: Not every attachment in a message needs to be opened
You have been sent a message with a file attached to it, and the sender strongly advises you to look at this file. Only you do not know this sender - some kind of "left" character, albeit persistent. Feel free to open an attachment, there is a picture or some other bullshit, but with a tricky trick - from the moment you open it, all your button presses in your account are remembered and sent to an outside “hacker”. The image attachment contains a hacker script designed to intercept your social network password.
In general, if you do not know or are not sure about the identity of the author of a message with an attachment, do not open the attachment. By the way, the more unknown the sender insists on opening the attachment, the more likely it is a hacker. Especially you should not open messages that came to you, but were not addressed to you - like, accidentally sent to the wrong place.
Listen, give me the phone - call my mother!
15: Let the phone ring
Today, a smartphone is not just a phone. This is a universal gadget that combines a bunch of functions, incl. phone and PDA. And since you save passwords from your social accounts on your smartphone (who will password-protect social accounts on your smart phone anyway?), an outside caller can get access to them. While he pretends to be calling ... Decide for yourself who is allowed to call from your smartphone, and whom to send directly ... to a pay phone (although there are almost none already). If you take it at all, then smartphone data protection is a highly recommended read for you. And use the means of self-defense described in it. To not feed scammers, literally.
16: The problem of threats in social networks is solved through admins and moderators
Entering into an aggressively abusive dispute with a certain character from the social network is stupid. To spoil the nerves, but to get angry to no avail. It's simple - write a message to the administration of the social network with links to the swearing correspondence and the scolder's account. And all things!
The user agreement of social networks (which everyone should read - the first paragraph of this article!) always states that users cannot be aggressive, etc. In short, the administration bans negligent users for lousy behavior (blocks access to acc).
Your classmates in elementary school have long grown up and matured in life!
17: In order not to steal your page on the social network ...
… You need to set up ways to identify yourself as a loved one. If you do not link your account to the IP address (IP addresses change when you log in from different gadgets and through different Internet providers), then specify two e-mails - the main and additional. The topic with the “secret question” no longer works (the hell you’ll remember later what answer you set yourself) - link your social account to your mobile phone number. It will be almost impossible for a hacker to change the password in a social account where confirmation of an action by phone is required.
18: Explore the functionality of a social network
Each social network, in each of its user accounts, has buttons for functionality that ensures the security of the person who opened this social account. You need to find them, study the instructions for using them (the instructions are usually found in the FAQ section).
19: If a social network is unable (unwilling) to keep you safe…
... Immediately close your account in it. Delete the page completely - yourself, if possible, or through the administration of the social network (by contacting it). There is no need to hang out in a social network that does not provide the necessary level of security for you. A waste of time, plus a risk to your wallet / reputation.
Fake site to intercept accounts and passwords
20: Your social media account password is yours alone
Scam hackers are looking for new ways to get user passwords from social networks. They create one-page imitation sites with a design stupidly copied from a popular social network. Then they send letters to users whose e-mail can be found - they say, enter your password by clicking on the link (the link leads to a fraudulent clone site). Like, “we want to make sure this is your account” or “you really own this page” and blah blah blah ...
Not a single large and real social network sends out messages like “confirm your password, fraudulent activity has been noticed on your page, otherwise the account will be deleted” - to its users. Remember - you are not obliged to disclose your passwords from Internet resources to any third (outside) party.
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