#Secure: Locking Down Your Social Media in Style

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Awareness, Cybersecurity Fundamentals, Guides

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Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, AHOY! Try these tips for securing the digital treasure trove that is your social media presence.

The age of digitization has transformed social media platforms into essential tools for personal and professional communication. However, with the increasing number of cyber threats lurking in the digital realm, protecting your social media accounts has become paramount. In this post, we will discuss the importance of securing your social media accounts and offer tips on how to keep your digital identity safe.

“Why should I secure my social media accounts?”

Safeguarding Personal Information

As we share snippets of our lives on social media platforms, we inadvertently reveal personal information that can be used maliciously by cybercriminals. Oversharing information publicly can result in cybercriminals obtaining important details about not only your lives, routines, habits, or preferences, but also your friends’ and loved ones’ lives, routines, habits, or preferences. This not only enables them to perform more effective social engineering, spear phishing, or other targeted attacks against you, but also those around you whose information they have also gleaned from your public profile. By securing your accounts, including making your profiles private and sharing your posts with only a limited audience such as your friends and family, you can limit the potential for identity theft and reduce the risk of unauthorized access to information that puts you and your loved ones at risk.

Preventing Financial Loss

Many people link their social media accounts to various online services, including e-commerce platforms and digital wallets. A compromised social media account can lead to unauthorized access to these services, resulting in financial loss and misuse of your data.

Preserving Your Reputation

Your online presence is an extension of your personal and professional reputation. A hacked account can damage your reputation by disseminating false or offensive content. Securing your social media accounts helps maintain your credibility and protects your online image, for both you and our workplace.

Protecting Your Network

When your social media accounts are compromised, your friends, family, and colleagues become vulnerable to cyberattacks. By securing your accounts, you not only protect yourself but also contribute to the collective security of your online community.

“What are some strategies for securing my accounts?”

Use Strong and Unique Passwords

Creating strong and unique passwords for each of your social media accounts is crucial. Use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Password managers can help you generate and store secure passwords for all your accounts. Also, avoid saving them in the browser. Anyone who gets access to that computer or device can then log back in, especially if multi-factor authentication is not enabled. If you have trouble remembering your passwords, try a password manager!

Enable Two-Factor or Multi-Factor Authentication (2FA/MFA)

Two-Factor or Multi-Factor Authentication provides an additional layer of security by requiring a second or even third form of verification, such as text message pins / passcodes sent to a device you own, rolling codes from an Authenticator app on your mobile device, or a push notification sent to a registered mobile device. The point of 2FA/MFA is to provide additional verification and validation of your identity before granting access, just in case your username and password were compromised. Enable 2FA on all your social media accounts to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. Not sure what 2FA/MFA is best or what approach to take? Check out our Beginner’s Guide to 2FA/MFA!

Limit Third-Party App Access

Many social media platforms allow third-party apps or sites to access and use your account information. Regularly review these permissions and revoke access to apps you no longer use or trust. Make sure you pay attention to what information they require you to share as well, and if it’s customizable, always share the least amount necessary to allow the third-party app to function. Also, make sure you only authorize applications to access the social media accounts that you trust. Do not authorize applications downloaded from third-party app stores or unreputable websites (especially those with foreign domains you may not be specifically familiar with), or that show any signs they may not be legitimate. Even some applications from the Google Play or iOS App Store can be malicious, so exercise caution when authorizing app access beyond well known, or well vetted applications or websites, and again, only authorize the bare minimum information you are comfortable sharing.

Be Cautious of Phishing Scams

Cybercriminals often use phishing scams to trick users into revealing their login credentials. Be vigilant about unsolicited messages, emails, or links that prompt you to log in to your social media accounts. Always verify the legitimacy of the source before providing any information. Check out these helpful tips you can use to spot potential phishing messages.

Keep Your Devices Secure

Ensure that your devices are protected with strong passwords or biometric security (FaceID, Thumbprint), up-to-date security software, and the latest operating system updates. This will help prevent unauthorized access to your social media accounts through your devices if a vulnerability exists that a hacker could exploit. Additionally, make sure never to leave your device unlocked and unattended, especially in public places. If you lose or forget your device somewhere and are unable to retrieve it, execute a remote wipe if you have the capability (via “Find My” in iCloud for iPhones, or via Google’s ‘Find My Device’ page for Androids), or if it’s a phone or computer that is managed by your workplace immediately notify your IT or Security team as they may be able to locate, lock down, or wipe the device.

Monitor Account Activity Regularly

Regularly review your social media account activity for any suspicious or unauthorized actions. Many platforms offer notification features that alert you to login attempts, password changes, or other unusual activities. Activate these notifications to stay informed about your account security. If you see attempts to access your account from a location or device you are unfamiliar with, your first response should be to immediately change your password and enable MFA before the unauthorized party has a chance to lock you out.

Remember to Log Out

One of the most common ways people’s accounts, of any type, are compromised is because they forget to log out of a session if they’ve been using public computers or another person’s device. Be sure to always log out of your account. Also, if you are on a public computer or device and you’re worried about your username and password being saved, you can a) use the private mode on a browser before you login, which will not save the credentials and will wipe all cookies on browser close (you should use private browsing mode by default on any public devices for your own protection), or b) try to access the browser’s security settings and clear the history, site cache, and cookies yourself.

“What else should I know?”

In today's interconnected world, securing your social media accounts is of utmost importance. By implementing these security measures and staying vigilant, you can protect your online identity and safeguard your personal and professional reputation. Remember, your social media accounts are an extension of yourself and have the potential to give the world great visibility and insight into your life—treat them like a digital Fort Knox, and keep them safe from cyber threats.

For more in-depth information on how to keep your Social Media accounts safe, download our Social Media Protection Guide! In it you’ll find step-by-step instructions for securing your individual social media accounts to guard against the threats discussed above.

Click the image below to download it now! 

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