Social media and related communication tools such as Emma, Constant Contact, etc., have become an integral part of our personal and professional lives. However, with the increasing prevalence of cyber threats, it's crucial to prioritize security when managing these types of accounts. By following the best practices below, you can enhance the security of your social media accounts such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Remember to stay vigilant, regularly review your security settings, and educate yourself and those around you to minimize the risk of unauthorized access and protect your online reputation.
Best Practices
Change your social network passwords regularly. This prevents other accounts from being easily accessed if one account is hacked. Use a password management tool to keep track of various passwords and make sure passwords are not easy to guess.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) whenever possible. This adds extra layers of security to combat more sophisticated cyber attacks even after credentials or identities have been stolen, exposed, or sold by third parties.
Regularly update security settings. Set your accounts to private and review the default privacy settings so you can control who sees what on your accounts.
Always lock your device or log off to prevent unauthorised access to your social media accounts.
Narrow down connections to reduce unknown threats. Be wary of the types of individuals and entities that you are connecting with on social media platforms. Carefully review every connection, and don’t affiliate with those that appear disingenuous or suspicious.
Use the block function to protect yourself from spam accounts and unwanted followers/interactions.
Use the Report Phish button to report any suspicious activity:
- Don't click on links in posts, tweets or direct messages unless you are 100% certain that they are genuine and well-intentioned - they may be phishing attempts!
- Be aware of phishing scams that use sites or messages to imitate a contact or organization you know.
- Report any password reset emails that you did not request.
Be careful about the personal information you reveal about yourself online. This can be used by malicious users for social engineering scams.