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Navigating Facebook in the Digital Age
In today’s digital world, Facebook is more than just a platform—it’s a vital link to stay connected.
Yet, as we embrace these benefits, it’s essential, especially for seniors, to stay aware about privacy and security in our ever-evolving cyber landscape.
With cyber threats on the rise, ensuring your personal information stays safe is more important than ever.
In this guide, we’ll explore the key practices that protects you from scams and data breaches. We’ll empower you with the knowledge to protect your personal information while still engaging fully with the platform.
Let’s dive into a safer Facebook experience together!
Don’t overshare personal info: This tip might be the hardest to remember because social engineering attacks on social media can look like innocent fun. Quizzes, games, and even popular memes like ‘What’s your Elf name’ or ‘What’s the first sentence of your autobiography’ can be tricks to collect your information.
Think Before You Post: Sharing your real-time location or announcing you’re away from home can be a security risk. Birthdays, home addresses, and financial details are best kept private. Identity thieves and scammers prowl social media for this kind of information.
Privacy Settings are Your Friend: Explore Facebook’s privacy settings to control who sees your posts and profile information. Customize the audience for each post, ensuring only trusted friends see sensitive updates. This way, you can share personal moments securely.
Double up on account security: While there isn’t a single way to “double up” on security, you can definitely layer your defence to make your Facebook account much harder to crack. Here are some ways to significantly improve your FB account security:
- Strong Password: This is the first line of defence. Use a strong, unique password that isn’t used for any other accounts.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enable 2FA! This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a code from your phone or another device in addition to your password when logging in.
- Review Login Approvals: Facebook will notify you of unrecognized login attempts. Make a habit of reviewing these notifications and denying access if you don’t recognize the device or location.
- Monitor Active Sessions: Facebook allows you to see a list of all devices currently logged into your account. Review this list regularly and remove any sessions you don’t recognize. This helps ensure your account’s security.
Beware of “friend requests”: Friend requests can be a great way to reconnect with old friends or discover new communities on Facebook. But just like in the real world, sometimes it’s wise to be cautious about who you connect with online. Here’s how to navigate friend requests safely:
Red Flags to Watch Out For:
- Generic Profiles: A profile with minimal information, few photos (especially if they seem stock or unrealistic), and no clear connection to you is a red flag.
- Strangers with Promises: Be wary of requests from people you don’t know who offer unrealistic rewards or opportunities. “Get rich quick” schemes and “win a free vacation” messages are classic tactics of scammers.
- Sudden Reappearances: Did a long-lost “friend” from high school suddenly reappear? It’s possible, but proceed with caution. Fake profiles often impersonate people you might know to gain trust.
- Know Your Network: Only accept friend requests from people you actually know and recognize. If you’re unsure, send a message asking how they know you.
- Spotting Scams and Protecting Yourself Online: No social media platform is entirely safe. Scammers can lurk on any platform. If a friend sends a suspicious link, their account may be compromised, potentially trapping you next. Unusual offers of romance or friendship in unrelated comment sections could be honey traps, common social engineering scams.
Common Social Media Scams:
- Fake Facebook prizes
- Work-from-home job offers
- Fraudulent charities
- “Is this you in this video?” link scams
- Facebook quiz scams
- Hacked asking for 2FA codes
- Phony sellers on Facebook Marketplace
- Romance scams
- Fake ads
Always trust your instincts. If something feels strange, it could be fraudulent. Verify with contacts off-platform to ensure authenticity.
Get Support
If you have questions or need additional guidance, reach out to us for our personalized support.
We are here to support you in navigating through each step of your digital journey.
By staying vigilant & informed, you can protect yourself & your information.