Protecting your digital identity on social media websites

According to comScore, a source for digital marketing and measurement of digital usage, a social media user spends an average of 5 hours a month on social networking sites. While this seems a low number, these sites have seen an increase in popularity within certain demographics. As noted in a recent report released by istrategylabs.com, users 55 years of age and older have doubled within the last six months.

Social media sites help people stay in touch with friends and family members, as well as expand their circle of friends. The speed and ease with which users can share photos and create posts make it fun and entertaining, but sometimes “sharing” can be too much of a good thing. By now we’ve all heard about the countless ways people have jeopardized their jobs by posting work-related gripes, or know of someone who got burned by embarrassing photos. However, there also lurks another persistent predator among these networking sites. The FBI calls these cyber-predators social engineers, yet others refer to them as identity hijackers.

How Identity Highjacking Works

Identity Hijackers can directly hack into existing Facebook accounts, or create fake Facebook accounts by accessing the login credentials of email accounts using viruses or worms. For Bryan, who lives in Seattle, the thief hacked into his Facebook account, acquired his login credentials, and sent email to all his friends through the Facebook system claiming that he was in desperate need of help. The imposter, posing as Brian, claimed that he was on vacation in London and had been held up at gunpoint. With no way to get back home, he needed money wired to him immediately.

For Diane, the email was eerily similar in context to the email Brian received. Of course, Diane was in LA and nowhere near London. Identity thieves hacked into her Yahoo email account found a picture of her and used it to create a fake Facebook account. Assuming Diane’s identity, the hacker sent emails to everyone in her Yahoo address book.

In Diane’s case, she was able to close both her Facebook and Yahoo accounts within four hours of the breach and stop her friends from wiring money overseas. Brian’s friends weren’t so lucky; one person actually wired the requested $1200.
While social media sites are a great way to network, it’s also important for consumers to be aware of the risks and become proactively involved with guarding their online identity. We’ve collected a few tips that can help protect you from online identity theft.

• When registering with a social media site, use the least amount of information necessary to open an account.

• Change your passwords often. Use antivirus software and keep it updated.

• Review the privacy and security policies of any social networking site. Find out what you can do to opt out with advertisers or third parties.

• Use privacy settings. Decide how visible you want your personal and contact information to be and learn how to set the right level of privacy you’re comfortable with.

• Be suspicious of any email sent with the words “wired” and “western Union” within the body of the email, even if it is from someone you have “friended” on Facebook or any other social networking site.

• Never select an embedded link within an email, unless you have verified the source. Once selected, these links can either initiate a pop-up requesting you change your login credentials, forward you to a website that may look official, but is setup to obtain your personal data, or may even place a Trojan or virus on your computer.

• Be cautious about what you post. Never post information that allows scammers to steal your identity or physically find you, and only connect to people you know or trust.

• Be selective when posting photos. Do not post a photo that may contain clues as to where you live, work or go to school. If available, use a privacy option with photos that only gives access to certain friends.
We hope you consider these tips on how to safe online while enjoying the technology you use every day.