Social media safety tips to protect your information

保护你的网上信息正变得越来越重要. With the growth of social media, 数以百万计的人可以很容易地与朋友保持联系并表达自己, family and associates. But with the prevalence of computer hackers, 主动保护你自己的安全、你的账户和信息的隐私和安全是很重要的. 这里有一些对所有年龄段的人都有用的在线和社交媒体安全提示.

How to stay safe on social media?

Here are a few helpful tips when browsing a social media site. Most importantly though, 记住，你分享的任何信息都是公开的，通常是社交媒体网站的财产，可以被他们或其他人分享.

• Don't share your password. If you have shared it or suspect it's been stolen, you should change your password immediately, 所以你, 只有你, have access to your account.
• Change your password. 这是个好主意 change your password 并不时选择字母和数字的复杂组合, using upper and lower cases and other marks. 记住在每个社交媒体网站使用不同的密码.
• Check your privacy settings. 如果你可以调整隐私设置，选择适合你舒适的级别. 只选择与你选择的人分享你想要的信息.
• Control who can search for you. 社交媒体网站通常会让你把个人资料“公开”, w在这里 people can search and find you, 或“私人”, w在这里 people can only find you if you give them your address.
• Don't accept invitations to connect from strangers. 如果邀请来自一个有共同关系的人, 联系你的共同联系人，确认邀请是合法的.
• Use good judgment when posting online. Internet content will last online forever, so be careful not to post something that might embarrass you, your family or your business associates.
• Use caution when clicking on links. 当你通过一个包含链接的网站看到帖子或收到来自“朋友”的消息时, treat them like you would an email message to help avoid phishing scams.
• Be cautious of "quizzes" and "games". 这些考试很有趣，但有时它们是为了收集你的信息而设计的.

How might you avoid social media scams?

Criminals troll social media like they do with email phishing scams. Use a few precautions while online to avoid common scams, especially if you've accumulated financial resources. Here are some tips to avoid common scams:

• 搜索你的名字. 时不时地, 在互联网搜索引擎中输入你的名字，看看会出现什么关于你的信息. 这是一种潜在的骗子能够找到的信息. If you think you're sharing too much information, 转到隐私设置，限制谁可以看到你的信息，以及他们可以看到什么信息.
• Make sure you know your social media "friends." When you receive a friend request, even if you know you have a friend in common, confirm that the request is legitimate. 确保这些请求是由他们所说的那个人提出的.
• Practice caution on dating sites. Even on legitimate dating sites, 你不知道你在网站上遇到的人是否在说真话. When corresponding with potential dates, be suspicious of fake photos, 在恋爱初期经常出现拼写错误和爱的表达. 你还应该注意，如果你一直在交流的人回避面对面的会面. Scammers often claim to be working overseas. 永远不要给你在网上认识的人寄钱，即使他们看起来很真诚.
• Watch out for unsolicited callers. No one from the government, 包括国税局, 会给你打电话要钱或要你的个人信息吗, or threaten legal action if you don't provide it. If the government needs information, they will send a letter by mail, which includes a specific number and a person to call. According to the IRS, "A big red flag for these scams are angry, 自称来自国税局的人打来威胁电话或发邮件，要求立即付款. This is not how we operate. 人们应该立即挂断电话并联系TIGTA(税务管理财政部监察长)或国税局."

寻找更多信息和其他社交媒体安全提示?

Check out these additional resources:

• 安全上网. 学习如何保护你自己、你的家人和你的设备与有用的提示和资源.
• Good digital parenting. 家庭网络安全研究所的在线安全提示，工具和规则.
• Resources on 欺诈s Impacting Seniors. 帮助ful resources from the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging.
• Do not call registry. 注册你的手机和固定电话，以避免不必要的电话营销.