Online Privacy in a social networking world
Social Networking and Identity Theft
There are a lot of things to beware of when interacting with the online world. It is impossible to be sure that the person you are talking to is actually the person that they claim to be. A teenager could think that they are having a nice chat with another teen on the other side of the world, but it could just as easily be a criminal waiting to take advantage of them.
Social networking sites such as MySpace, Friendster, Yuwie, and Facebook are great places to meet old and new friends, exchange information, and plan events together. These sites are extremely popular, and even with the huge amounts of controversy, millions of people are still signing up.
Networking sites were first created to give teens a safe area to meet other people their age, but eventually they morphed into a tool that could be used for fun, business or fraud. More adults than teens (not to mention corporations) use MySpace as a way to showcase their talents and resumes, and others use it to keep in touch with family and friends. However, the popularity and massive amounts of personal information being displayed is a huge playground for criminals lurking on these sites as a way to steal their identities.
How Is an Identity Stolen From Social Networking Sites?
Identity theft has become prevalent on any site that is popular. Thieves love social networking sites because people do not hesitate to fill out the large profile that is provided when they sign up. From their first and last names, to the schools that are enrolled in to the names of pets and family members, they upload it all. An identity thief will pretend to have the same interest, age or sex so that they can get close to a victim. With teens especially, they will pretend to listen to their family problems and other issues while they attempt to gain their trust. After that it is only a matter of time before they begin asking casual questions to get their victims to open up more about their lives.
Other ways a thief will gain access to private information is to hack into websites. Even with large amounts of security, any site can be hacked if the criminal knows the areas that are vulnerable. The way that most identity thieves get their information is sadly simple. They surf (or use automated software) until they find profiles that the victim has already filled out. They can then use this information to pose as you. If someone on the street asked for your address, phone number, date of birth, mother’s maiden name and school name, most people would be instantly wary. In the online world however, this information is made available to the world at large.
People forget that anything they put on the internet can be seen by billions of people. If you wrote your phone number on a piece of paper and left it on the street, a handful of people at most would see it. That is why it is incredibly dangerous to share private information online. You’re sharing your life with a huge, unknown audience.
Simple Steps to Protect Your Privacy Online
Most websites have settings that you can adjust. If you talk to family and friends as well as people you met online, change your settings to hide certain information from the prying eyes of strangers.
- Never give out your social security number.
- Try to avoid posting personal pictures of yourself to the general public online, or at least disassociate your name from them. If you have given a thief or other dangerous criminal enough information to find you, a photo can lead them directly to your front door. Personal images can also be used to hurt and harass you as individuals can edit the images however they please.
- A lot of websites use a mother’s maiden name as a way to provide extra security and login verification. It seems innocent enough, but you should never give this information away. The same goes for the name of your pets. It is too common a security question that thieves can use to hack into your online (and offline) accounts.
- The most important piece of information that you should always resist from posting online are your upcoming plans, such as a vacation. While it can be a way to alert trusting individuals that you will be away from your computer, you are also telling a thief that they can feel free to rob your home, as it will be empty.
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March 1st, 2008 at 1:28 pm
As a personal experience, you cannot trust who is on the other side of the network, there are hackers waiting for preys all over the internet these days.