Data theft on any social media platform is a real concern and Facebook is no exception. Facebook has faced allegations that it used cookies and various plug-ins in order to track and save information about its users’ visits to third-party websites and then sold to advertisers.
Though it says that it is taking a thoughtful approach to privacy as it attempts to build the immersive, virtual world for users known as the metaverse, but experts believe that users have to take their data privacy concerns seriously and do whatever is possible to protect it.
Here are top 10 tips to ensure that your data doesn’t get compromised ‘easily’.
Let’s have a look –
Rule #1: Use a secondary email address for account creation
You should bever use your primary email address to create accounts on other websites or platforms. Always try and create and use a disposable ID for just the purpose of account creation on any social media platform. This will protect your information even if the website is compromised. This secondary email ID will not have your sensitive data linked to it.
Rule #2: Be careful while Facebook sign-in
There are certain platforms that offer the option to use your existing social media accounts to login. This is indeed a time-saving and hassle-free option, but at the same time, this process is risky in case of a data breach. You will be giving an easy access to a hacker of all your social media account as well as other linked websites.
Rule #3: Unique passwords
It may look a lot of hassle but surely a safe tip to protect your personal data. Even if one website is breached, the data of only that account will be compromised. You can use a password manager to remember all passwords.
Rule #4: Opt for a two-step verification process
You must protect your apps and accounts by opting for a two-factor authentication (2FA) system. As the term suggests, it uses two steps to complete a login process. It is a simple process – you will use a username and password for the first step, and then an OTP from your registered mobile number to complete the login process.
Rule #5: Be careful while sharing links in emails
Be very careful about the links that are sent via emails, even if they are from an official and trusted source. Hackers are known to replicate official looking emails incorporated with a malicious link and send them to unsuspecting users. When they click on it, they unwittingly end up sending their personal data.
Rule #6: Invest in site security
Before sharing your personal information on a website, check if the URL starts with ‘https’ and there is a lock symbol before it. These two are indicators that the website is secure, and it is safe.
Rule #7: Ensure a robust privacy settings
All social media websites have an elaborate privacy controls for users. You must go through them in detail to check where your private posts and photos are being seen. It is advisable to switch to visibility for your personal data (images, videos and more) to your friends and family only. This always works.
Rule #8: Don’t blindly trust incognito mode
Don’t blindly rely on incognito mode when browsing online. While it may minimize the data that is collected, as Google recently revealed, the data can still be accessed by companies and advertisers.
Rule #9: Be careful while using free Wi-Fi
Very few things in life give one as much joy as free Wi-Fi connectivity. But be extremely careful when browsing on a free network, especially in public spaces. A miscreant may just be using the same free network to snap up any personal data that crops up.
Rule #10: Add additional safety layers
You should always try and add as many protection layers as possible on your mobile phone or computer. It is never a bad option. You can go for a trusted anti-virus software and keep it updated to ensure that you are protected against all the latest malware attacks.