Don’t Be A Cowboy – The Six Rules Of Social Networking
Today’s online Social Net
working platforms are the digital age’s answer to the Saloon Bars of the Old West – a 24/7 couldron of all the news, games, gossip, rough and tumble and flirting you can handle … all available at your fingertips, from the comfort of your own home.
No-one can deny the obvious advantages of social media – but what people need to remember is that just like a Saloon Bar, a significant percentage of the Social Networking population is there for just one reason – to cause mischief. And in the 21st Century there is no moustachio’d sherrif to call in when the bullets start flying, and no bouncer to stand at the double-doors to bar access to the underaged or vulnerable.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your family from online cowboys and predators. Managing the risk and promoting a preventive, threat-alert mindset when online is as easy as following these six simple rules:
1. Arm yourself with a full internet security suite, such as AVG Internet Security – AVG’s unique Linkscanner technology provides realtime protection for all links accessed or exchanged within Facebook, Twitter and MySpace to keep both you and your friends safe.
2. Never publically post or submit confidential personal data, unless you are prepared for the possible ramifications.
3. Change your password at least once a month, especially if you access your social networks via a mobile device or smartphone. Many security vendors provide additional security for popular mobile platforms, such as AVG’s Mobilation.
4. Don’t use social networking on public computers, and don’t let others access their social networks on your computer. You don’t know where they’ve been!
5. Don’t auto-save your password, and clear your history and browsing data weekly. Consider automating this with a system optimisation tool such as AVG PC Tuneup.
6. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, don’t accept friend requests from people that you don’t know. You’ll never know who might turn out to be a cowboy (or girl).
Related Posts:
- The Importance of Logging Off
- New Social Networking Bill Causes a Stir
- Digital Diaries: Most Kids Are Already Social Media Adults By The Age Of 13
