The most visited sites on the internet today are social networking sites. In fact, Facebook just passed Google for the most visitors, after Google held that spot for the last twelve years. With the increasing opportunity to connect to others comes an increasing opportunity to become a victim of identity theft. It’s very difficult to verify the identity of who you are talking to or where your information on your profile will end up. While you’re probably wise enough not to post your social security number or your bank account information on your profile, did you know that your home address or phone number can be just as dangerous?
The Dangers of Social Networking
Anyone can pose as someone else. False profiles are created in order to become friends with potential victims. Free online gaming applications may ask for personal information. Many times, the apps that are downloaded end up collecting personal information off of your computer or other websites.
While you probably want to make sure your friends have the most recent phone number or that you’re going to be going on vacation, do you really want to tell everyone online that information? When you stop and think about it, you wouldn’t tell a total stranger that information, but millions of people put it online every day.
Safe Social Networking
There are several ways to keep your personal information safe when you are on a social networking site. Don’t post your phone number or address in your profile. It’s very easy to use a reverse search engine to find out more information about you and your life.
Set up your social networking accounts with the strongest security settings possible. Most of these sites allow you to determine who sees your full profile and who can only see a few things, such as your name or hometown. Some of your friends may not need full access to your complete profile, especially if they allow anyone to become a friend of theirs online.
Experts estimate that 74% of all social media users divulge some sort of personal information. Identity thieves look for people who haven’t implemented security features, so make sure you take every precaution to protect yourself.
Many children don’t realize that they can become victims of identity theft. Some reports put the incidence of child identity theft as high as 55%. Monitor children’s online activity, for both the safety of your child’s personal information and their physical safety.
A Few Final Thoughts
Social networking can be a great deal of fun. However, remember that it is online and therefore, the information that you put on your account may be accessed. The key to prevent identity theft on social networking sites is to keep your guard up at all times. When it comes to identity theft, remember that you are the only with everything to lose.