According to Kim Komando, host of a commercial talk radio program focusing on personal computers, the Internet and various other issues regarding consumer electronics, you should be very careful what information you give out on your Facebook account.
To avoid such things as identity theft, stalking or even being burgled in your home, here are five things you should not give out to any social media platform.
1. Specific details of where you live.
Apart from the fact that you will give criminals information on the best time to rob your house, if you post pictures when you are on vacation or attending an event, it’s never good to let people know your exact address.
If you need certain people to know your address, send them a personal message or invite them to inbox you if they require more details.
2. Details of your employment.
Posting details of where you work on your Facebook account, especially if you add specific details such as which department, can make life so much easier for hackers who want to break into your company’s computer systems.
Another reason to keep this information private might be if one of your present or past co-workers has a grudge against you. They could easily look up fellow employees on Facebook and find out information about you that might hurt you with your employers.
3. Your relationship status.
It’s best to remove your relationship status entirely from Facebook and only give out this kind of personal information to those people you know you can trust. You could also attract unwanted attention from would be admirers, if you let them know you are “single.”
4. Credit card details or other payment information.
Although it may be easier to purchase things straight through Facebook, such as gift cards, if you give them your credit card number, remember using the social media site is free. If Facebook keeps asking for this information, just ignore their request.
Hackers are frequently searching for Facebook users who have left their account open when they have used another computer and giving credit card information makes it easy for them to order what they want, leaving you to pay.
5. Personal contact number.
Although you have to give your phone number to use some Facebook features and if you use your phone to login, it will automatically know this, it’s best if you edit your personal information as soon as you can.
To change your personal settings for address or contact information, follow these steps, writes Komando on USA Today.
Click your name at the top of your Facebook page, then select the “Update Info” button and navigate to the “Contact and Basic Info” section. Next to your phone number, click the Edit link, and then click the little icon under the number and change it to “Only Me.” Then click “Save Changes.”
