Social media platforms are ingrained in our daily lives. At times, social media has become an extension of ourselves with all the information passing through family and friends. Therefore, learning about protecting your social media accounts is more important than ever.
Social media is a powerful tool to stay connected worldwide. It keeps us updated on the latest news. It keeps us more entertained as most of our day is spent scrolling through Instagram, Facebook, Gmail, or TikTok.
We are so habitual in using social media that we click on something malicious. Therefore, it is vital that your personal information on social media is not accessible to anyone. However, once you have adopted the security measures, it becomes easier to handle accounts.
Social media account securing tips
Below are some important tips and tricks to protect your social media accounts. Read this article to learn more about the hacks to protect your social media accounts. Additionally, you should compare the security of social media platforms. For instance, what information they collect suggests that data could be in danger (in theory).
Finally, consider other silent dangers social media brings. For instance, social media could interfere with hobbies, work, or personal development. So, consider limiting your time spent on social media platforms.
Keep a strong password
The first step towards protection is creating a strong and unique password for each account you have. Usually, a strong password is the primary saving agent against hackers. The basic rules for building a strong password suggest not using easy-to-find data as your password.
It helps to strive for length and complexity. Every unique element or extra character makes it harder for the hacker to hack it. Also, remember to have different passwords for every platform because similar passwords can be a win-win situation for any hacker.
Keep your account private
The prospect of being viewed by everyone globally could mean more followers for influencers. Also, the number of likes on an Instagram post may be tempting. However, keeping your account public for everyone to see your life does come with numerous dangers.
For instance, anyone can bombard you with unfiltered comments on your public profile. Furthermore, leaving your account open to anyone puts you at risk of cyberstalking.
While occasionally checking someone’s profile might seem harmless, it could lead to dangerous situations.
Beware of strangers
Critically analyze all the invitations you receive over social media platforms. Accepting a stranger’s friend request could be dangerous. A person sitting on the other side of the screen could be interested only in gathering your personal information for cybercrime purposes.
And yes, many fake accounts exist on various social media platforms. Thus, you can never know who you are truly talking to online.
Look out for phishing links
The rules are yet again similar. Do not open any strange links sent to you over any social media platform. It may be a hoax and can gather personal information without you realizing it. Therefore, avoid frauds like ransomware, viruses, and phishing attacks.
However, it can be difficult to identify the hacker from a genuine person. Thus, simply follow recommendations for communicating with unknown people on social media. First, never reveal personal information to them, regardless of what they tell you.
Second, verify their identity by requesting a video call. If they decline, that is also a signal that the account might be fake. However, even if they agree to video chatting, look for other odd behavior, like encouraging you to invest in crypto projects.
Use multiple-factor authentication
Safeguard your social media accounts with two-factor authentication. The method ensures that the user requesting the code has the right device and knows the password beforehand. Today, all major social media platforms have this feature.
The code is sent via SMS to your personal contact information and is valid only for a few minutes. However, using an authenticator application like Google or Microsoft may add an extra layer of protection.
Logout from unrecognized devices
Log out from all the open sessions if you cannot identify the devices and their location because some social media platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn let you see logged-in sessions globally.
However, it is not only about the network loopholes; sometimes, it’s also the device compatibility. If the device is not updated, it might attract some unwanted attention. Therefore, it is best to log out from unrecognized devices and locations.
Be wary of unsecured networks
Another way to keep your social media accounts safe is by watching out for lurking eyes while scrolling in public. To avoid theft attacks like shoulder surfing while typing your password, keep away from prying eyes. Also, avoid using public Wi-Fi.
The hacker could intercept your connection and steal information you access, be it on social media or an online bank. However, if you must connect to Wi-Fi, use it with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to keep your location untraceable and secure.
Enable a VPN for Windows every time you take your laptop to a coffee place or an airport. Since a VPN encrypts internet traffic, snoopers on public Wi-Fi should not be able to steal your data.
Bottom line
The Internet has taken up a lot of space in our daily lives. We are so hooked on sharing our daily happenings globally. However, much is also being compromised with the need to increase connectivity.
First and foremost is our privacy. While the companies may take a while to sort things out, proven measures can be taken to avoid security breaches.
