From GMA Network
We have been able to cope with the physical limitations set by the
pandemic largely through technology. Staying indoors has driven an increase in in-home media consumption, from watching television for news and entertainment, or connecting with family and friends through social media.
In the Digital 2020 April Statshot report
of Hootsuite and We Are Social, 64% of Filipino internet users reported
spending more time on social media. As we engage our virtual selves
more, we incur a greater exposure to hackers, phishers, and other
cybercriminals. This is why we must observe a stricter set of security
measures on social media. To keep your social media space safe and
secure, keep in mind the following tips:
1. Use a strong password
While it is important
that our passwords can be easily remembered, we must follow protocol
when assigning them to our online accounts. This usually means complying
with a certain length and using alphanumeric and special characters.
Avoid having the same password for all your social media and other
online accounts.
2. Enable a two-step verification
Use
a two-factor authentication for your social media accounts or any
online account that offers it. This way, you will be required to enter a
verification code sent to another device before you can log in. You
will also get alerts if your account was signed in from an unknown
device to confirm it was you.
3. Use a unique email for your social media accounts
Create
a new email specifically for your social media accounts. By doing
this, hackers won’t have access to any personal information in case your
account is compromised.
4. Keep personal data personal
Your
home address, phone number, bank account number, and other personal
information have no place in your social media accounts. The same goes
for photos of any form of identification as these may easily be used by
identity thieves.
5. Be selective when adding friends
The
rule is simple when it comes to this: if you don’t know the person,
don’t accept the friend request. Fake accounts abound, so make sure you
screen a profile before clicking the confirm button.
6. Be mindful of what you post
Even
your closest friends do not need a blow-by-blow account of your day,
what you’re currently up to or where you’re going next week. You may
have deleted information or a photo you shared but you do not know who
has made copies of it. Remember that the more you share, the more
information is passed on to potentially malicious individuals.
7. Manage your online presence
Your
social media accounts have privacy and security settings. Utilize these
to control what your friends and the public can see, and even what
others share with you.
8. Think before you click that link
Scammers
regularly use social media accounts to con people. Be mindful of
content or language that does not sound like something your friend will
post. Look out for links which lead you to sites that ask for personal
information before you can get in.
9. Limit apps connected to your social media
Do
you use Facebook to sign in for any other applications? Evaluate if
this type of access is necessary. Singular access like this provides a
doorway to your other accounts that bear sensitive information which
would otherwise be restricted.
10. Log out when you’re finished
Always
log out of your social media account, or any personal account you have
used on your phone or laptop. End your online sharing sessions by
closing them on your browser or app.
Social media has made our
lives more enjoyable and bearable, especially during quarantine. It
offers endless avenues for connecting, entertainment and everything in
between. With special offers like Smart Communications’ Giga Stories 99
and its award-winning mobile data network, we can share, be entertained,
and stay connected with 16GB of data. Get ready to empower your digital
lifestyle via simple and easy digital solutions as part of its latest
“Simple. Smart Ako” campaign.
