7 Ways To Stay Safe On A Social Networking Site

Social networking sites such as MySpace, FaceBook, Xanga, etc. have become all the rage as the cultural zeitgeist has moved towards online life. People do everything from their computers these days, so why not add socializing onto it? While they are a lot of fun and can keep one connected to far away friends, these sites can also be dangerous if not used correctly, and unfortunately, not many people do. Here are some quick tips to help you stay safe and secure online.

#1: Utilize your Security settings:
When you log onto and sign up for one of these sites, there is always a toolbar somewhere on the screen that will say something along the lines of “settings”. Most people are too busy blogging and chatting to worry about such an unsocial part of their experience, but it is necessary. When you sign up, you release your password, e-mail, and other personal information to the site. Some options in here even can stop your information from being sold to advertising agencies for a quick profit.

#2: Make your profile private:
Unless you are a business or a band, you will want your profile to be private. You can most likely find the privacy options in the settings tab. This will allow only people whom you designate as friends via an invite or a message to be able to view and comment on your profile. This will also keep people you don’t know from trying to get at your personal information.

#3: Watch out who you “friend”:
The main premise of most of these sites is to have friends. These are a great feature to be had, as it allows you to instantly communicate with these people and separates them in alphabetical order. Some people take this too far though. They think that having the most friends is a game, and their inflated egos lead them to request and accept random people, allowing more people access to their page with all sorts of sensitive information. Who you think is a friend might not actually be a friend.

#4: Beware of Phishing Advertisements:
You may receive mail on your inbox with messages such as “You’ve won one million dollars!” This is a standard phishing technique, and everyone has seen it in practice on their e-mail accounts. You may see these generic messages pop up as profiles on your page, but with a more sinister twist. Your friends profiles will be hacked and it will look like they will send you these messages of false winnings, or maybe just a shameless advertisement. While some of these are easily figured out to be a scam, some are very well written in the colloquial language of the Internet and you might think it is actually your friend trying to communicate to you.

#5: Keep Your Password Secure:
Never check the “keep me logged in” button if you are using a shared computer as someone else could easily log on and screw up your account. Also, if at all possible, don’t write down your password or save it in any documents on your computer. A hacker could get into this, and partnered with your public e-mail address, could gain access and wreak havoc on your account. Try to always memorize your passwords… don’t use programs such as RoboForm or any other password remembering software unless you are sure it will only be you on that computer.

#6: Watch The Information You Post:
This may seem like an obvious one, but watch the information you post. It’s one thing if your friends know some embarrassing details about you via a stupid little survey you post, but if you post your location, you could be in trouble. Your so-called “friends” could use this to find you in real life. Also, while these websites have the best intentions as far as guarding the safety of your profile goes, there are errors. God forbid a hacker gets in and you have your complete address posted!

#7: Change Your IP Address:
This one may not seem at obvious, but it is probably the most important. Most of us are not ignorant enough to post our full address, but in a candid conversation with a friend, may reveal locating information. Protect your anonymity and anonymous browsing by using a change IP proxy. This will thwart any potential hackers from getting into your communications via your IP address, which is the portal to all of your Internet activity. By hiding this, you become invisible to online criminals and avoid any privacy issues.

Use these simple steps, and you and your loved ones can have a fun and safe browsing experience on any social networking site.

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