Facebook Safety Tips

Since its inception back in 2004 Facebook has become incredibly popular. Currently there are over 750 million active Facebook accounts. But because of its popularity Facebook also attracts many cyber criminals as well. Hackers and Cyber criminals are always trying to steal your personal and financial information and like to use Facebook to get it from you. Therefore, it is important you take certain precautions when using Facebook or any other social networking website. Here are a few tips to help keep you safe when using Facebook.

You should never post your address or telephone number on your Facebook profile. Potentially anything that you post to your Facebook account can be compromised. Let's face it; if the cyber criminals are capable of hacking into large organizations then they are also capable of stealing your password or hacking into your Facebook account. You should never post your exact birth date either. This information is valuable to identity thieves. Here is a good rule to follow when posting anything to your Facebook account. If it is something that you would not want strangers to know or see than your safest option is to not post it to your Facebook account.

Be aware that any pictures or videos that you post or upload to your Facebook account can be copied by anybody who has access to them. If someone can view a picture then they can also copy the picture as well. This includes anyone who may access your account without your permission. Be aware that deleting a particular picture at a later point in time does not delete any copies that may have already been made of this picture. Again, if it is not something you would want certain people to see your best option is to not post it to Facebook.

It is never a good idea to accept friend requests from people that you do not know. This just lets the cyber criminal's one layer closer to stealing your personal information.

Always protect your password. Do not share it with your friends. Be sure to create a strong and original password. Do not use your name or address or birth date in your password and use small and upper case letters as well as special characters in your password to help keep it secure.