Social Networking Awareness

As the popularity of social networking sites continues to grow, so do the security risks associated with them. Sites like Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin have become main targets for hackers.

Because of the threat posed by cyber criminals, taking it upon yourself to secure your social networking accounts is of the utmost importance. Below are several tips for securing your social networking accounts to keep hackers out and your private information safe.

How to Protect Yourself

Use strong passwords.

Keep antivirus software up to date

Update the security and privacy settings offered by social networking services to ensure the strongest settings possible. View security info on the following sites:
- Facebook's security info (Facebook site)
- Twitter's security info (Twitter site)
- Linkedin's security info (Linkedin site)
Avoid suspicious third-party applications.

Treat everything as public.

Share only with people you know.

Here are 8 steps that will help you become more socially aware if you integrate them into your daily activities:

Learn to identify which types of situations make you uncomfortable, and
then alter your behaviour to make the best of your circumstances.
Learn to become aware of behaviours in other people that may cause you to respond negatively. As you are unlikely to be able to change the other person, you must be able to modify your own behaviour to turn the situation into a positive experience.
Take ownership for your behaviour and be willing to apologize for lapses or errors in judgment or insensitive actions.
Ask others for their honest feedback about the way you interact with them. Accept the negative feedback along with the positive (without getting defensive) and make changes accordingly.
Be aware of you body language. Non-verbal communication is more important than what you have to say. Positive body language will benefit your interactions with other people.
Learn to listen with genuine interest. Fight the urge to respond immediately and really listen to what the other person is trying to say.
Accept that improving your social skills is not an overnight process. Trying to improve or change too many things at once will be counter-productive as you will feel so uncomfortable that you may suffer an emotional hijacking.
Maximize your positive personality traits and use them to your advantage when interacting with others.