Social Media

These days, it's hard to live without social media sites; that's why 82 percent of Americans have at least one social profile. However, the sheer amount of personal information we upload to social media sites makes them an easy target for hackers. Luckily, most social media tools allow you to adjust your security settings. Follow the tips below to keep your social media life safe.

SECURE YOUR PASSWORDS. You should be the only one to know your passwords, and you should ensure that you have different passwords for your various social media accounts. This will make it more difficult for hackers to steal your information. Read more in our article about password security.

LOG OUT. This tip may seem simple, but it applies to all devices you own, and even devices you don’t. Logging out can minimize the risk of information theft if your device is stolen, or if someone uses the device after you.

CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES. Always think about what you are posting before you post it. Potential employers often check applicants’ social media sites during the hiring process, and according to a survey conducted by CareerBuilder, of the 70 percent of employers that do social media research, 57 percent found information that made them decide not to hire the candidate.

TAKE QUIZZES WITH CAUTION. Social sites like Facebook and Snapchat play host to thousands of "quiz" sites that promise to reveal your personality type, ideal spouse, or even Star Wars name. The catch? They're often saving and using the answers you share. If, for example, you tell a quiz site your favorite sneaker style, your data could go straight to a marketer. Or worse, if that Star Wars name generator asks for the street you grew up on, you've given the quiz site the answer to a potential security question.

KNOW WHO YOU'RE CONNECTING WITH. Limit the amount of people you follow that you don’t know personally. You should be cautious about friending people you don’t know. When it comes to following people on sites like Instagram or Twitter, do your research to ensure that they are credible and safe sources of information.

CLICK WITH CAUTION. Clicking on a link that isn’t trustworthy can lead to malware infection or data theft.

ADJUST YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS. Each social media platform allows you to adjust your settings to limit the amount of information you share. Review your security settings often. If a social media platform updates, it can affect how the settings work.