Social media security is critical for every e-commerce business or private success. Every serious enterprise invests thousands of dollars to guarantee its online security. If you’re seriously concerned about your own privacy but don’t know where to begin, here are the ten tips for social media security and privacy
Choose a Strong Password and Change it Regularly
The first step in saving your social media from the security breach is coming up with a strong password. Qwerty123 or andrew120190 do not fit.
Upon registering, some services propose a few password requirements like 8 symbols min, using capitals, numbers, and symbols and in 99% it makes you mad. In fact, a complicated password is what helps your account stay safe for a longer time. Avoid using the same password for multiple services and change your passwords regularly for both your personal and your business social media accounts. Do it at least once in a quarter or when an employee leaves your company.
Use Two-Factor Authentication
Paul Bischoff at Comparitech believes that two-factor authentication is the best way to keep an account secure. The point is, when an employee tries to log in, they need to submit more than one authentication mechanism proof. This can be a security question, pin code, face id or etc.
Some social media platforms currently have and recommend implementing two-factor authentication to help protect your account.
An alternative way is to take advantage of Google Authenticator App that generates a unique code for each account every time someone attempts to log in.
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Don’t Use Suspicious Third-Party Applications
In most successful hack attempts, a victim has left the door for a hack wide open trusting its account info to third-party applications.
Before using any of the third-party apps for any reason, always use your head! When provided access to your account, such apps can often do different things on your behalf. Thus, it’s extremely important to do at least a little research to make sure you give away your account details to a trustworthy company.
Besides, trustworthy third-party services will always have a “log-in via Facebook” button instead of offering you submit your password directly.
Check Email Inbox To Track Log In Attempts
We know that anytime you check your email inbox, you skip Facebook or Insta notifications because in most cases these are notifications from friends. How do we know? Because the majority of us do so. Social media emails may be pushy and bothersome.
BUT. What if we say that in a bunch of notifications, there may be a warning that a hacker tried to break into your profile.
If you got an email about a login attempt, don’t ignore it. Change your password into a stronger one as soon as possible.
Create an Email Address Specifically for Social Media Management
In that way even if a hacker will compromise your website security measures, at least you know they cannot gain access to other sensitive data.
Even when you’re done with this rule and you use an email account only for social media, this doesn’t mean you are 100% invulnerable.
Remember to stick to basic cybersecurity tips like using strong passwords and changing them regularly. It’s tough to keep in mind all passwords and share them with your employees in a safe way. Write all the passwords down and use this cheat-sheet until you learn them flawlessly.
Be Cautious About Public Wireless Connections.
Having a snack in your fav restaurant watching cute cat reels one after another is a must after a tiring day. WiFi is unlimited so you probably log in to your social media account, check your email inbox and finally order that сute bauble from an online market.
What if we say that public wireless connections are not the best options when it comes to online security?
Public Wi-Fi connections at restaurants, airports, and libraries and etc lack the protections to keep social accounts secure. Hence, cybercriminals receive a lucky chance to easily steal all the passwords and credit card details.
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Invest in Products That Ensure Online Security
Ensuring cybersecurity of business accounts in social media is much easier with specialized products. They’re designed to always stay on alert and warn you any time when any danger to your privacy arouses. After installation, it warns you of any problems associated with social media accounts. These include malicious links posting or fraudulent accounts pretending to be your brand.
Use VPN
If you’re really cautious about online safety, use VPN to protect all your messages, passwords, and calls. How does it work? All your data will be put through a secure tunnel between the websites and your VPN services provider.
Also, remember to use VPNs to torrent downloads. Apart from giving you the virtual location where the torrent is allowed, VPN adds more security on the Net. For instance, you can make yourself anonymous while using a torrent website.
Adjust Your Audience and Security Answers
All public social network platforms give you the chance to limit your own audience. But almost all people do not understand the importance of this step. What we suggest is that every user learns the pros of this option and utilizes it for their own security.
Next, you can also set up security questions for your own accounts. Instead of questions like what was the name of your first pet?” or “When did your parents marry?” ask questions that are hard to guess by a stranger.
Keep as Much Privacy as Possible
Your social media account can tell a lot about you. Cybercriminals may use whatever information to hack your account: date of birth, education, pet name and etc.
Just imagine how easily someone can find out the personal information about you without even the slightest effort just analyzing your Facebook account. And then imagine how many services may use this info as security questions.
When filling out your social media account, be mindful of what information you let others know. Think twice before becoming too personal. Keep distance. Even if you think there’s no one interested in your modest Insta profile or not demanded one-page website, this is not quite so. Hackers love all kinds of prey.
Conclusion
Following these simple steps would help you ensure the security of your social media account and the integrity of your data. So stay safe and don’t risk your business.