Social Networking – Are you giving too much away?

Did you know that some burglars are using social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter to find out when their potential victim is out of the house? (Read The Telegraph's article here). This is a pretty scary thought, particularly when you consider how many users of social networking sites will not have considered the risks of disclosing personal information in a "public" arena and will not use privacy settings.

Did you also know that there is a Windows/Linux Application called "Creepy" that can track down someone's location based on their social network activities……..creepy when in the wrong hands!

So, the bottom line is when you are tweeting excitedly about that fabulous holiday you are about to go on or posting your phone number on Facebook, just remember that there are people out there who could use that information for their own nefarious means. All that being said, there are some steps you can take to keep yourself as safe as possible whilst using social networking sites. There are no guarantees but here are some basic tips:

Be cautious about publishing any identifying or personal information about yourself online- a good rule of thumb is not to disclose anything that you wouldn't disclose to a stranger in the street;
Make sure you know how to use the privacy settings on any sites you are using to the fullest extent. Check out the settings to see what options you have to limit who can see various elements of your personal information. Review and adjust the settings regularly; new settings are often added over time; and
Choose a user name that doesn't disclose any personal information.