This Christmas season be aware of the potential dangers of Social Networking and read the information below to ensure a safe, fun use of Social Networks.

• Be wary of publishing any identifying information about yourself – either in your profile or in your posts – such as phone numbers, pictures of your home, workplace or school, your address or birthday.
• Pick a user name that does not include any personal information. For example, “joe_glasgow” or “jane_liverpool” would be bad choices.
• Set up a separate email account to register and receive mail from the site. That way if you want to close down your account/page, you can simply stop using that mail account. Setting up a new email account is very simple and quick to do using such providers as Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail or gmail.
• Use strong passwords.
• Keep your profile closed and allow only your friends to view your profile.
• What goes online stays online. Do not say anything or publish pictures that might later cause you or someone else embarrassment.
• Be aware of what friends post about you, or reply to your posts, particularly about your personal details and activities.
• Learn how to use the site properly. Use the privacy features to restrict strangers’ access to your profile. Be guarded about who you let join your network. Check the networking sites policy regularly
• Be on your guard against phishing scams, including fake friend requests and posts from individuals or companies inviting you to visit other pages or sites.
• If you do get caught up in a scam, make sure you remove any corresponding likes and app permissions from your account.
• Ensure you have effective and updated antivirus/antispyware software and firewall running before you go online.

 

For more information

For more advice on using social networking sites safely, visit the Get Safe Online Website https://www.getsafeonline.org/

See the Internet Matters website and ThinkuKnow website for information on talking to your children about social media:

https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/social-media/

ThinkuKnow

 

Don’t Forget
Complete the new 2016 Cyber Crime survey, so we can see the full scope of Cyber Crime in Warwickshire, and across West Mercia and the West Midlands – https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RegionalCyber16