According to a study by global cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab involving 12,000 people worldwide, 28% of those surveyed have experienced sharing confidential information by accident, while 16% said they willingly disclosed "secrets" online.
These include photos of themselves (45%), contact details (42%), photos of another person (32%), sensitive personal details (30%) and work-related data (20%).
Furthermore, one in every six respondents (16%) admitted to have shared confidential information, 9% communicated private information about another person, and 8% shared sensitive financial details.
Meanwhile, a total of 28% admitted to have accidentally shared confidential data and one in 10 respondents have suffered as a result.
The consequences included losing friends (20%), being bullied (17%), suffering financial loss (15%), ruining relationships (13%) and being dismissed from their job (13%).
Despite this, 13% still do not take any precaution to keep their online activities and information safe, and only 39% double-check all messages and posts before clicking send.
Here are some tips for a safer social media sharing from Kaspersky Lab:
1. Check your security settings
When you join any social networking site, the first thing that you must remember is to check your privacy settings.
This includes checking what data can be seen by your friends, followers, and the general public. You should also check the rights of the social network's operator in terms of your personal data.
2. Be mindful of your posts
Always remember your manner and netiquette before posting anything. You should be mindful before sharing photos, videos, and thoughts that may offend other people.
It is also important to be cautious in using services that will automatically publish your current location.
3. Determine the authenticity of a friend
Verifying the profile of a person before adding him to your social media circle is a must. Better yet, just add those who you know personally.
4. Protect your photos, personal info
Identity theft is one of the biggest threats on the Internet. There have been cases in which cyber-criminals have created fake profiles and used them to blackmail their victims. Thus, keep your profile secure by setting your privacy within your close relatives and friends.
5. Prevent malware attacks
Cyber-criminals have also learned to utilize social networking sites to infiltrate vulnerable users and steal important information.
In such cases, users receive an invitation from a friend to view a photo album or to click on a link to watch a video. Clicking on the link, however, may infect your PC with malware.
To read more tips on how to protect yourself online, click here
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
