Your internet and computer questions answered

At the request of friends and family members, I am posting a series of guides on how to use popular computer software and websites. Want to understnad what your teen is up to on their latest social networking site? Or how to protect your personal information on Facebook? Have a look here.

If there is something you'd like to see or a question you'd like answering, email me on cerralin@gmail.com.

Friday, 24 June 2011

What not to share on facebook

So, we've been through the account and security settings on facebook, to help avoid scams, viruses and sharing information unknowingly.  But you also need to consider what you post on your wall (in your status) or in public events on facebook.  Here is a list of the things I would never post on facebook:
  1. Home address, postcode, streetname, or even part of it - even if it's on your own wall or your own event, one of your 'contacts' could share it with their contacts and they could share again.  Do you really want 500 people you don't know turning up at your house for a party when you post that you're away on holiday a month down the line? It's an open advert to any criminal who noticed your address to keep an eye out for when you next post some holiday pics - telling them that your house is empty.
  2. Your Date of Birth.  This is a crucial piece of ID that you use to identify yourself to banks and other instituions. If someone has this, along with your full name, and (with a bit of looking at your family links) your maiden name, you're making it very easy for someone to steal your identity.  By all means share your birthday (day and month), but DONT share the year or your age.
  3. Inappropriate Photos.  Look at the photo. If you wouldn't be happy with it printed in a 3metre high banner out in the street for everyone to see, don't post it on facebook.  It is *very* easy to share other people's photos from facebook, so if you don't want everyone to see the photo, or there is even a small possibility that someone could use it inappropriately, DON'T risk it - don't post it.
  4. Events - Don't make your private/personal events (i.e. for a specific group of friends) into PUBLIC facebook events. They can get shared and the invitations passed around to hundreds of poeple you don't know.  You can easily make events private and invite/share with JUST those friends you'd like to be there.  Do you *really* trust all 600 people, and all their contacts, not to spoil your event? Do you really want them ALL there?!  AND, dont include your phone number or your house address on the Event either.
That's all for now....just think of your security, and the security of the information that could get shared maliciously about you!