How Can Social Networking Be an Online Security Threat?

Whether you are banking online or have all your family photos stored in the cloud, you want to make sure that your digital information and identity is safe. This starts with strong passwords that are hard to break, and extends to being careful with the information that you share about yourself online, especially via social media.

The Threat
If they cannot hack your password directly, they can still try to get in the backdoor. Most online accounts offer options for people who forget their passwords. With a little information about you, a hacker can click “forgot password,” answer some basic security questions, and gain access to your account. And you may have given the hacker the information he needs by posting it on social media or your blog.

Avoid Using the Top 10 Most Hacked Passwords
1) 123456
2) password
3) 12345
4) 12345678
5) qwerty
6) 123456789
7) 1234
8) baseball
9) dragon
10) football

Don’t Share Too Much Information
Many security questions involve the name of your first pet, your mother’s maiden name, or other personal information. Let’s say you have some pictures on your social media of you with your first pet, Fido. You just told any potential hackers that the name of your first pet is Fido. If this is the answer to a security question, the hacker may be able to gain access to your accounts. Make sure you are not giving out the answers to your security questions on social media.
Securing your online reputation involves being polite and respectful on social media. A good rule is to imagine that your mother or your boss are reading everything you post. To secure your privacy, you want to imagine that criminals and stalkers are reading everything you post. You would not want to tell burglars that you are on vacation and your home is unattended all week. In the same way, you don’t want to tell hackers your mother’s maiden name.

Incorrect Security Answers
There is no rule that says you have to answer security questions with the actual correct answers. They are simply meant to help verify your identity, so as long as you know what answer you gave, then you will be able to access your account if you forget your password. So if the question is asking for you mother’s maiden name, say another answer that you can remember but that is not your mother’s maiden name. This way, even if an identity thief finds out your mother’s maiden name, he still will not be able to answer that question correctly and hack your account.

Passwords with Punch
If you’ve ever felt the need for stronger security for your home or business, SafeTouch can help you. We have the knowledge and expertise to help secure your home so you can focus on what’s important, like your online security.