Social media is a great way to connect with people and stay up to date on the latest trends. But if you’re not careful, social media can also be a cybersecurity risk for your business.
With the recent Facebook data leak, social media safety has taken the spotlight, and rightfully so. It may feel like your interactions outside of the office have little effect on your business, but there’s nothing farther from the truth. The recent uptick in data leaks can be partially attributed to employees’ poor security habits for their personal devices and accounts.
It’s important to be aware that cybersecurity risk lies not only with companies but also with users who are using social media for business purposes too. The best way to protect yourself is by doing your research about the security measures a particular website has.
Here are some tips for staying protected while on social media:
Be Mindful of Password Safety
Make sure your passwords are complex and unique. Never use the same password twice, no matter how safe you think it might be. It’s better to have a different password for each account than one that is only slightly more secure across every platform.
Here are some other ways to keep your password secure:
- Make sure your password is long. Many hackers use advanced technology that can crack passwords in seconds, so it’s important to have at least 16 characters or more.
- Change your passwords often. Hackers have the ability to keep trying different password combinations until they find one that works, so it’s important to change them every few months at a minimum.
- Don’t use birthdays or other personal information. Your password should not contain any of your pets’ names, children’s names, birth dates, and so on. This is a common tactic that hackers will try because these pieces of information tend to be easier for them to guess than more complicated password combinations.
Two-Factor or Multi-Factor Authentication
The accounts you access often use two-factor authentication (TFA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) as an added security measure. This means you have to validate your identity on another device.
Be Mindful of What You Post
Review the content you post online regularly to avoid cybersecurity risks. Do not share any personal or company emails on social media, as it could allow cybercriminals access to your accounts.
Be especially careful when posting that you’re on vacation, even if it’s just for a day or two. It could be an indication to cybersecurity criminals that you won’t be at work and they might target your business.
Be Mindful of Online Activity
If you see an inappropriate post from someone else on one of your social media accounts, do not accept responsibility by deleting it yourself. Instead, report the incident immediately to the cybersecurity team at your business. This will ensure that cybersecurity professionals will review the cybersecurity risk and take appropriate action.
Make it a rule not to sign into social media accounts from public computers such as those at cyber cafes or libraries – even if they look like legitimate businesses with real employees who are working behind the counter. These locations often have keyloggers installed on their PCs which can give hackers access to everything you type while you’re there including passwords and credit card numbers — making this an unsafe practice.
Final Thoughts
Employees on social media can also be a cybersecurity risk for businesses, so it’s important to monitor what they post online too. The recent Facebook data leak has only proven this point more, as anyone could become a liability to their company. Educate your employees about cybersecurity risks using these tips.
Want more cybersecurity tips? Contact us today to know how to secure your business, from vulnerability audits to cybersecurity training for your employees.
