Socialise wisely on social media— IT expert advises
An expert in Information Security Management, Mr Eric Afanu, has cautioned users of social media platforms to be careful of the kind of information they put about themselves since such information could be used by fraudulent people for mischievous purposes.
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He said personal information such as name, age, phone number, home addresses and information about family, spouse or children must be shared with caution.
“No matter how real online interactions seem, they are not like physical meetings with family and friends. You never know for sure who is at the other side of the divide or who you are connecting with.
“The person you are connecting with may not be who he or she claims to be or a fraud. So you need to understand the risks involved in dealing with people you meet online,” he advised.
Social media
Social media platforms have become very popular as a result of the influx of smart phones onto the market.
The most common platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter allow users to share pictures, interact with friends and followers.
Depending on the setting of the user’s profile, the location and time of posting any information can easily be viewed by friends and followers.
Identity theft
Mr Afanu explained that putting too much information on these platforms could lead to impersonation or identity theft by fraudsters, adding that there had been several instances where people had forged documents or identities of people for criminal activities.
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He said these platforms gave users the opportunity to select who to follow, what to like and whether his or her profile should be private or public. Users should, therefore, take advantage of the relevant levels of control and protection.
“Before you post anything online such as pictures, videos, comments, tweets and links, know that they may ultimately be seen by anyone on the Internet and it could be there forever.
“The site may archive what you have posted, friends may give it out or hackers and security lapses could expose it. It may be available for future employers, friends, job recruiters and other consequences you may not be able to imagine,” he said.
Social media and businesses
Mr Afanu explained that though this new media allowed for fast and easy dissemination of information, certain kinds of information shared or liked by employees could affect the image of their companies though that might not be the official stand of the organisation.
“Before you upload that picture on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or “like” a friend’s post or picture, consider how those activities might reflect on your online reputation and that of your employer.
“Will it advance or destroy your career? Will it enhance your company or your reputation? You may want to avoid hate speech, controversial and insensitive posts. The rule is do not post anything on social media you wouldn’t want linked to you.”
Parental control
Mr Afanu said these platforms sometimes contained information inappropriate for minors.
“For this reason, parents and guardians should monitor their children and wards and the pages they subscribed to as well as the people they followed,” he advised.