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Social Media

Managing your Social Media Account Security

Our Security on social media is our responsibility. No one should be held more responsible than ourselves. It starts with paying attention and using the best possible security practices.

Many would not expect me to say this; “We are responsible for managing our own online security.”

Yes, the social media sites we use have systems and processes in place that help us to manage our security, however we can not allow someone else to be solely responsible for managing our security. We are Responsible.

Fortunately most of the online sites we use for social media have features and functions we can use to manage our online security.

If we ignore these features we are in essence saying, “I don’t care about my security. Let [pick a name] handle it for me.” This is a HUGE Failure. Don’t be that guy.

Here are a seven best practices you can use yourself to manage your online security:

  1. Use Unique Passwords. Do not, let me repeat, DO NOT use the same password for all of your social media sites. Use unique and even strange passwords for each site. Furthermore, do not use a password you use for your bank or financial sites as the same password for any other site, especially not for your social media sites. If a hacker breaks your password on Facebook, he will try that login and password on possible bank sites.
  2. Use a Password Management Tool. I do not mean a sticky note or a spreadsheet. Rather, consider tools like Last Pass, 1Pass, KeyPass, etc. etc. Furthermore, evaluate the tool you decide to use. Do your research. Here is an article from LifeHacker about Password Management Tools. Read it and become informed. (Oh Yeah – use an even more bizarre and unique password into the Password Vault. Be smart, not lazy.
  3. Never let someone login to your social media site. Many people are guilty of this. However, allowing other people to know your password information can be an extreme risk. If you need help with social media ask the consultant or coach to use a screen sharing tool and you login on your machine and share your screen to them. This way no one else knows your login.
  4. Use Two Step Authentication. Most of the social media tools have Two Step Authentication built into their systems. If you login to a new device you will be prompted, often via text message to your mobile phone, to enter in another code to complete the login. This almost eliminates the possibility of someone who discovers your login & password from actually logging in as you, unless they have your mobile phone as well. Keep you mobile phone nearby at all times and don’t change phone number until after you turn off two step during the number transition. Here is a YouTube video showing how easy this is.
  5. Pay attention to where you are logged in. Facebook, Google, LinkedIn and other sites keep track of where you are logged in. Review this information now and then to make sure you did not leave yourself logged into another computer somewhere. Delete any unknown or unsure logins.
  6. Clear Password Cache & History on other devices. If you do login to your social media sites on other devices such as a client’s computer, Library, presentation laptop, etc, before you turn off the computer Clear the Cache in the web browser. Especially password or login information.
  7. Pay attention to Apps connected to your Social Media Accounts. It is a useful feature, allowing other applications to connect to our social media accounts, however it’s important to vet these applications and to disconnect them when you are no longer using these apps.

Our social media account security is our responsibility. We need to be responsible in every way we can. Don’t rely on the social media site to do it all for you. Take the first step. Most of these settings can be found under the Security and Privacy sections of the social media tools you use.

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