Social networking sites such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace are becoming increasingly popular, especially among teenagers and young adults. The nature of these sites introduces security risks, so you should always be cautious when using them.
Social networking sites rely on connections and communications, so they encourage you to provide a certain amount of personal information. The more information available, the easier it becomes for others to take advantage of your identity and in some cases criminals could fraudulently use this to obtain products and services in your name.
Personal information could also be used to conduct a social engineering attack; predators may form relationships online and then convince unsuspecting individuals to meet them in person, which could lead to a dangerous situation.
Here are some essential tips for protecting your identity:
- Always limit the amount of information you provide - do not post information that could be used by third parties (e.g. your address, date of birth, post code, job title or information about your schedule or routine)
- Always read and understand privacy policies - some sites may share information such as email addresses or user preferences with other companies. This may lead to an increase in spam and unwanted emails
- Remember that the Internet is a public resource – consider how others may view any information provided. Avoid using inappropriate language in your profile in blogs and other forums.
- Never converse with strangers - the Internet makes it easy for people to misrepresent their identities and motives
- Be sceptical and maintain your integrity - don't believe everything you read online. People may post misleading information about various topics, including their own identities, to lull you into a false sense of security
- Change passwords regularly- and use a separate email address for social networking sites
Children are especially susceptible to the threats that social networking sites present. Parents should teach their children about internet safety and be aware of their online habits.
For more information: www.ico.gov.uk/youngpeople
