5 Facebook Safety Tips

#1: If they’re not your friend, don’t pretend. Don’t accept friend requests unless you absolutely know who they are. There have been reported instances of private investigators, police officers, sex offenders and the like creating fake accounts to gain access to you online. If you do not know the person, then do not accept their friend request.

#2: Post only what you want made public. If you don't want your parents or co-workers seeing it, don't post it. Be cautious about the personal information that you post on any social media site. It may be fun to think that an old flame can contact you, but now scammers and thieves are clambering to access that personal information as well.

#3: Manage your privacy settings. 60 percent of social network users are unaware of their default privacy settings. Facebook does a good job of explaining how to lock your privacy down. To make it easy for you, follow these steps:

Step 1: Read the Facebook Privacy Policy. When the privacy policy puts you to sleep, go to Step 2.
Step 2: Visit the Facebook Privacy Help Page. This explains how to minimize all possible personal information leaks that you just read about in the privacy policy.
Step 3: Customize your Facebook Privacy Settings so that only information you want shared, is shared. These simple steps will dramatically reduce your risk of identity theft.

#4: Keep Google Out. Unless you want all of your personal information spilled into the Internet world by Google and other search engines, restrict your profile so that your personal information isn't up for the world to see.

Phishing scams threaten the safety of your computer and your identity. It may look like this:

#5: Watch for phishing scams.

Dear user of facebook,

Because of the measures taken to provide safety to our clients, your password has been changed. You can find your new password in attached document.
Thanks,
Your Facebook.

Another example of a phishing scam is a friend in distress scheme. Friend in distress schemes are when a thief takes over someone’s account and then makes a plea for financial help to all of your friends (who think that the post is coming from you). If you receive a post requesting money to help a friend out, call them immediately.

Follow these 5 Facebook Safety tips to protect your personal safety.

This information and more can be found at: http://www.sileo.com/facebook-safety/