Think of all the things you put on Facebook. It could be your location or who you’re with. You might post pictures of your children or perhaps your house. Lots of people publish their date of birth and other sensitive personal information.
A few weeks back, I posted a blog about 5 things you shouldn’t reveal on Facebook. The purpose wasn’t to cause alarm, but to flag that what seems like innocent info to you can really be very valuable intelligence to criminals and identity fraudsters.
Quite a number of people commented on the blog saying thing along the lines of ‘I have my privacy settings set high so I’m alright’ or ‘Only my friends can see my updates so if something bad happens I know it must have been one of them.’
And this got me thinking: are high privacy settings on Facebook enough to protect all that information you share?
Phishing for passwords
We’ve all had a friend who suddenly starts posting about a miracle weight loss cure or other unlikely product. That’s because they have clicked on a link in an online message that has let someone use their account unwittingly. And of course companies aren’t always secure either and can be hacked with millions of passwords stolen.
No network is secure so even with a single login site like Facebook you shouldn’t assume that your information is private. That’s why good password discipline for all your online accounts is vital. Keep them different and varied and change them. Get Safe Online has comprehensive advice on passwords.
Is your device secure?
Do you log in every time? Or do you allow Facebook to remember you are logged in from session to session? Lots of people do the latter. Now, imagine that your laptop, iPad or smartphone is lost or stolen. Unless you have set a passcode or password on the device (and not everyone does) then whoever gets hold of it has free access to your data. Be particularly careful with shared devices.
Are your friends security conscious?
The other thing to remember about Facebook information that you share solely with your friends is that you rely on them to be careful and diligent too. Think about it. If they fall foul to a hacker, lose their iPad while they’re logged into Facebook or have a vulnerable password, then if a wrong ‘un accesses their account your information is all fully available.
It just pays to be careful
The privacy settings are just that, to ensure privacy within the closed garden setting of Facebook. But they are not foolproof and you shouldn’t bank on the fact that your info isn’t also visible to others. Being discreet and careful about what you share and talk about online is still the best protection on Facebook and elsewhere.
Dan Wilson is the Co-Editor of Tamebay – the independent blog for keeping eBay users up to date with the auction site's latest developments – and the author of Make Serious Money on eBay UK, Amazon and Beyond, due to launch next week. He is also a freelance writer, author, editor, digital consultant and internet marketer. As such, he frequently accepts invitations to comment on topical issues on radio and television and in print. A graduate of the London School of Economics, Dan has worked for numerous web start-ups including vzaar and MyDish as well as for larger organisations including the NHS, Labour Party and BT.
This piece first appeared in yesterday's edition of Metro.
