Protect Your Privacy On Facebook And Twitter Part - 1

     WEB SURFING is no longer a solo activity. Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks have quickly become an integral part of the online culture, and with them comes an array of serious threat to your privacy. In this set of articles, I'll identify some networking and offer a few easy steps that you can take to stay safe online & they are necessary for everyone to protect his/her privacy.


              Social networking is built on the idea of sharing information openly and fostering a sense of community. Unfortunately, an online network of individuals who actively share their experiences and seek connections with other like-minded people can b e easy prey for hackers engaged in social engineering  and phishing attacks. It’s important to be aware of the threats and to use discretion in all of your online interactions.


Take Care Before You Share Online

For starters, even in an open community of sharing, you should observe commonsense boundaries. As US President obama warned students in his September address to schools, “ be careful what you post on Facebook. Whatever you do, it will be pulled up again later somewhere on your life.”
        The core truth of that statement can be applied to any social networking site, and possibly to the Internet as a whole. As a general rule refrain from posting things online that you will regret later. The odds are good that someone, someday, will stumble across it, and it may come back to haunt you especially if you are planning to run for public office.
        If you think that abstaining from posting embarrassing or inflammatory comments online ruins the fun, you’re playing a dangerous game. Remember who your friends are, and know that a friend of a friend can be an enemy.

Don’t Lose Sight Of Who Your Friends Are

         When you write a Twitter tweet or post a Facebook status update, you have to keep your audience in your mind. More and more these days, we hear stories about people who forgot that their boss was part of their network and then said things online that resulted in their being reprimanded or even fired.
 
        The adverse consequences of posting inappropriate online comments have become so commonplace – at least anecdotally — that they have earned an entry in the urban Dictionary: Facebook Fired. Even announcing something as seemingly innocuous as “I’m bored” in a status update during work hours can have dire consequences if the wrong people see it.
        With services like Twitter, and with the recent changes to Facebook that permit any interested party to view and search your updates, you really have no way to hide.