Facebook & Internet Safety Tips
Social media websites have grown exponentially, and the most widely used of these is Facebook. Many Facebook users are rightfully concerned about issues of safety and personal privacy. There are a variety of tips that can ensure the safety of computer users when using Facebook and the Internet in general.
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Facebook Security Concerns
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With hundreds of millions of Facebook users throughout the world sharing personal information with each other, issues of personal privacy and safety are at the forefront. According to Sophos, a leading Internet security firm, criminals specializing in identity theft are targeting Facebook and other social networking sites to harvest information about users. The first step in protecting yourself on Facebook is to learn how to adjust the privacy settings to ensure your personal information is accessed only by those you permit to do so.
Facebook Safety Center
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Recognizing the security concerns inherent with sharing personal information on the Internet, Facebook provides users with its Safety Center. Information is broken down into five primary categories: Safety in general and for parents, teens, educators and enforcers. Tips range from how to adjust security settings, to levels of privacy, to actions that can prevent cyberbullying. Among the tips: Never provide anyone with your password; customize your privacy settings page to prevent it being found on a search; and never post information that would allow someone to locate you offline, such as an address or phone number.
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Five Tips to Protect Yourself on Facebook
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Computer World offers a list of five tips for Facebook users to protect themselves. These are: Gain a thorough understanding of Facebook's security settings to control who sees your information; don't accept a "friend request" from someone you don't know; take care in using Facebook quizzes and surveys, and only use applications from trusted sources; before writing something or posting a photo, determine if it may become a source of future embarrassment if seen by your parents, spouse of employer; and look at your Facebook page through the eyes of a hacker to determine what someone with malicious intent could do with the information accrued there and then delete anything that may be potentially damaging.
Internet Safety
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Many of the safety tips for Facebook apply to general Internet use, particularly for those under 18. Canadian website Cyber Tip offers a selection of age-specific tips relating to Internet safety for children, with information offered for children age 5 to 7, 8 and 9, 10 to 12 and 13 to 15 (see References). In addition to providing parents with information on how a child's Internet use is likely to evolve during these ages, the site offers an array of safety strategies for each age group. Tips include: Use filtering software to prevent children from seeing inappropriate websites; make yourself aware of your children's passwords, screen names and the people they're associating with online; and place a time restriction on the amount of time they're allowed to spend on the Internet.
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References
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