In the first installment of this series, we took a general look at what social networking services are, and what it might mean for you as a small business owner. We’ll now take a look at some general warnings that come along with getting involved in such services, and what you should be aware of if you participate. According to information offered by the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US CERT), there are specific issues you should consider as you join social networking services. For instance, be aware that these sites will ask you to provide a certain amount of personal information. You should practice the same amount of caution as you would when meeting someone in person because: - the Internet provides a sense of anonymity
- the lack of physical interaction provides a false sense of security
- users tailor the information for their friends to read, forgetting that others may see it
- users want to offer insights to impress potential friends or associates
While the majority of people using these sites do not pose a threat, malicious people may be drawn to them because of the accessibility and amount of personal information available on them. So how can you protect yourself? As www.us-cert.gov suggests: - Limit the amount of personal information you post.
- Do not post information that would make you vulnerable (e.g., your address, information about your schedule or routine).
- If your connections post information about you, make sure the combined information is not more than you would be comfortable with strangers knowing.
Remember that the Internet is a public resource. Only post information you are comfortable with anyone seeing. This includes information in your profile and in blogs and other forums. Also, once you post information online, you can't retract it. Even if you remove the information from a site, saved or cached versions may still exist on other people's machines. Remember to be wary of strangers - the Internet makes it easy for people to misrepresent their identities and motives . Consider limiting the people who are allowed to contact you on these sites. If you interact with people you do not know, be cautious about the amount of information you reveal or agreeing to meet them in person. Maintain a healthy amount of skepticism. Don't believe everything you read online. People may post false or misleading information about various topics, including their own identities. This is not necessarily done with malicious intent; it could be unintentional, a product of exaggeration, or a joke. Take appropriate precautions, though, and try to verify the authenticity of any information before taken any action. Another tip is to always check privacy policies. Some sites may share information such as email addresses or user preferences with other companies. This may lead to an increase in spam. Also, try to locate the policy for handling referrals to make sure that you do not unintentionally sign your friends or business associates up for spam. Some sites will continue to send email messages to anyone you refer until they join. Source: United States Computer Emergence Readiness Team, www.us-cert.gov
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