Right now people across the country are being asked to stay at home to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. With more time at home people are spending more time on social media. Spending time on social media helps us feel connected to each other even though we cannot see each other face to face. While social media has many advantages, it can be dangerous if you do not exercise caution. Advanced Private Investigator & Security of Miami, FL has some things that we want to talk about so that you can keep yourself safe. First we want to share some general tips you may already be familiar with. Then we will dive into some more specific things you will want to watch out for. When you set up your account you will want to spend some time setting up your privacy and security settings. You can safeguard yourself by taking time to truly understand all of the setting options and choosing what will work best for you.

Strong Password & Limited Personal Information to Protect Yourself from Social Media Hackers

There are a few other things that you can do to help keep yourself safe on social media. You will want to set-up a strong password to avoid having your account hacked. In addition to a strong password, you will want to make sure that you do not put too much personal information on your accounts. The more you post, the easier it will be for someone to steal your identity, access your data, or stalk you.

Is What You Post Online Permanent?

Even if you set up amazing privacy and security settings you will want to remember that one you post something it will always be out there. What you post online stays online despite your efforts to remove it. You never know who shared your posts or saved your pictures. If you would not want your parents or future employers to see it, do not post it! Studies show that 70% of job recruiters reject potential employees based on information they found online.

Social Media Warning Signs

One danger that many people do not think about is getting taken advantage of while on social media. There are many people on social media that are simply there to con people. This can take many different forms. Some people are trying to commit fraud, some are trying to steal your identity, some are trying to get inappropriate pictures of you. The list could go on and on. We have some key phrases that you will want to watch out for so that this does not happen to you.
• “Let’s go private” – When someone wants you to talk to them privately instead of on a public thread this is a warning sign. Before you talk to someone privately make sure that you know who they are and trust them.
• “Are you alone?” – If someone asks if you are alone they could have a few different motives. If they know where you live they may come to your home uninvited. They could also be trying to get you to share inappropriate pictures with them.
• “Do you have a pic?” – There is so much information that people can gather about you from one single picture. Protect yourself and do not send pictures to people that you do not know.
• “What’s your phone number?” – Do not give your phone number out to anyone on social media. If they are truly your friend they will already have your number.
• “I know a way you can earn money” – Anytime that someone tells you that you can make money fast you should probably not trust them.

Private Investigator & Security Services in Greater Miami, Sunny Isles, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Weston, Plantation City & Miami Gardens Florida

We hope that these tips help you stay safe on social media. If you have more questions or concerns about social media do not be afraid to reach out. Advanced Private Investigator & Security of Miami, FL can help run a social media search if you run into any problems. Contact us today!