Social Networking sites - Security Issues

A large number of us are using social networking site and enjoy our Cyber space. Not onlydoes it make connecting up and networking easier, it is a great source of  fun and entertainment too. Although social networking sites are generally a safe place to interact with friends and acquaintances, most of us are unaware of the dangers lurking in these site.

How many time have you clicked on a nifty application in a social networking site, applications like fortune cookies, birthday greetings, gift a coke, etc. etc., and you have been given a choice of the application wanting to access your data and needing your permission? We generally provide the go ahead - without actually knowing the consequences. Most of these applications are maybe safe, but there is a possibility there may be a 'rouge' application lurking out there for your click, which may set a trojan(rogue program) in your system 'with your permission' and thereafter transmit data like credit card info, passwords or maybe simple data. There are enough such applications out there - so much so that the FBI has collaborated to set up the 'Internet Crime Complaint Centre' in the US of A. Trend shows that tough cyber laws has not been a deterrent, as long as careless users like us don't bother.

Keep these simple suggestions in mind to protect yourself while navigating the Internet:

• Adjust website privacy settings. Some networking sites have provided useful options to assist in adjusting settings to help protect your identity.
• Be selective when adding friends. Once added, contacts can access any information marked as viewable by all friends.
• Limit access to your profile to only those contacts you trust with your personal information.
• Disable options, such as photo sharing, that you might not regularly use. You can always enable these options later.
• Be careful what you click on. Just because someone posts a link or video to their wall does not mean it is safe.
• Familiarize yourself with the security and privacy settings and learn how to report a compromised account.
• Each social networking site may have different procedures on how to handle a hijacked or infected account; therefore, you may want to reference their help or FAQ page for instructions.