Enjoy connecting with pals on Facebook, MySpace and other social networking sites? You can help protect yourself from scams by using the following tips:
• Skip some profile questions!
According to Internet security company Webroot, 33% of us have at least three pieces of information posted in our social networking profiles that can help thieves steal our identity, such as our birthday, mother's maiden name, current or previous address, and where we went to school. Skip profile questions that ask for these and other data and avoid sharing them in your posts.
• Don't announce when you're going away!
Play it safe by not disclosing even short trips to the mall. Thieves look for this information in order to find empty homes to burglarize.
• Don't click on links in emails!
Cyber-crooks often hijack a friend's account, then send an email with the message "You're on this video" or "Is this a picture of you?" to get you to click on the link. If you do, it takes you to a fake log-in page that steals your username and password so they can hijack your account!