Copyright © 2013 All Rights Reserved.
<p> To most of us, our tweets seem harmless enough. After all, how much of a security risk can 140 characters or less pose?</p> <p> You may be surprised. Twitter has been used to start affairs, and what you post can <a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/878-dwyane-wade-takes-hackers-to-court.html">get you sent to court</a> in more than one way — but what about your personal data security? Can Twitter be used to <a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/566-5-simple-steps-help-prevent-identity-theft.html">steal your identity</a>?</p> <p> That depends on you and how you use Twitter. Here are 10 ways to mitigate your risks when you tweet.</p> <p> [<a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/1645-smartphone-social-privacy-settings.html">How to Set Your Smartphone's Social Privacy Settings</a>]</p>
<p> If you don't want your information shared, then don't share it.</p> <p> "If you want to keep your <a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/1723-id-protection-worth.html">personal information</a> safe on Twitter, don't put it on Twitter," said Tim Erlin, a security and risk market strategist for nCircle, a vulnerability-management company in San Francisco.</p> <p> "Everything you post should be something you want your mom, your boss, your co-workers and anyone else to read," Erlin said. "You can make your Twitter stream private so only people you invite can see it, but the whole point of Twitter is to be public."</p> <p> If you're worried about what might already be there, then check out step two.</p>
<p> By taking a look at your Twitter account when you're not signed, in you can see <a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/1759-emory-hospital-medical-records-breach.html">what kind of information</a> might be available to the public.</p> <p> Don't like what you see? Sign into Twitter and go into Settings by clicking the little icon shaped like a person on the top right of your Twitter page. From there, select Profile and adjust accordingly.</p> <p> If you're not really looking to share your information with the world, then the next tip is for you.</p>
<p> "You can easily set your Twitter feed to private," said Megan Nicole O'Neal, marketing communications coordinator at SDA Security in San Diego.</p> <p> From the Settings page, select Account and scroll down to "Twitter privacy." Select "Protect my tweets."</p> <p> "This allows only followers whom you approve beforehand to read the contents of your tweets," O'Neal said. "However, this can limit <a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/688-tweet-revenge-mans-twitter-followers-recover-stolen-laptop.html">the number of followers you receive</a>, because oftentimes people are wary of following someone they do not know who is set to private."</p> <p> [<a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/1970-stay-safe-string-social-sites.html">Staying Safe on Second-String Social Media Sites</a>]</p>
<p> Twitter's open interface lets <a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/1645-smartphone-social-privacy-settings.html">dozens of third-party apps</a> for both computers and mobile devices access your feed, and enabling them often takes just one oft-forgotten click. You should revoke access from unknown apps, as well as from any apps you don’t use any more.</p> <p> From the Settings page, select Apps. You'll probably be surprised at how many apps have access to your feed.</p>
<p> On the Account page, scroll down to "HTTPS only" and check the box next to "Always use HTTPS." This will establish <a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/514-twitter-always-use-https-encryption-option.html">a secure connection each time you log into Twitter</a>, and may deter some less sophisticated spammers.</p> <p> [<a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/1932-11-facebook-privacy-steps.html">11 Facebook Privacy Steps to Take Now</a>]</p>
<p> <a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/777-how-to-dodge-dangers-shortened-web-links.html">Shortened URLs</a> are a necessity within Twitter's character limits, but because they conceal a Web link's true destination, they also make much life much easier for spammers and distributors of malicious code.</p> <p> Tweet them out to your followers only if you know where each one goes. Likewise, don't click on shortened URLs sent to you by people you don't follow.</p>
<p> Giving away <a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/91-social-media-location-program-threatens-security.html">real-time access to your location</a> every time you tweet is a red flag for stalkers, creeps and even burglars, who'd like to know when you're not home.</p> <p> On Twitter's Account setting page, de-select "Add a location to my Tweets" under "Tweet location."</p> <p> Unfortunately, that doesn't prevent third-party apps, especially smartphone apps, from using Twitter to broadcast your location. To be sure, turn off all location services on your smartphone.</p>
<p> "Be careful what you say," O'Neal said. "Oftentimes, a simple tweet may reveal a lot more than you might think.</p> <p> "For example, tweeting how excited you are for the Britney Spears concert and later posting a picture with the caption 'Row 15' lets people know <a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/1545-hackers-track-cellphone.html">EXACTLY where to find you</a>," she said. "The more common version of this is people 'checking into' places like the gym or a restaurant, where [they] will be staying for a length of time."</p> <p> [<a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/1697-10-creepiest-apps-phones-facebook.html">Look Who's Stalking: 10 Creepiest Apps for Phones, Facebook</a>]</p>
<p> A direct message to another Twitter user, which is not visible to the outside world, gives you a feeling of intimacy, but it's a lot like any other email interaction. (Both parties must follow each other on Twitter to enable direct messages.)</p> <p> If you do not <a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/1545-hackers-track-cellphone.html">know or trust that person</a> in the real world enough to tell them your deepest secrets or divulge personal data, then don't do it via Twitter. Remember, that person may still be basically a stranger to you.</p> <p> So go ahead and tell them how much you love pistachio ice cream, or why your Mac is better than any PC ever made, but keep last names, children's names and locations out of your conversation. You'll be more secure, and you'll still get to bond.</p>
<p> Maybe you remember the popular "<a href="http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/1258-porn-star-name-identity-theft.html">What's your stripper name</a>?" game that was popular on Twitter a few years ago. Basically, you combined your first pet's name and the name of the street you grew up on to create something like "Tallulah Sunnyside Way."</p> <p> It may have seemed cute and innocent to you, but think about it again. Two common password-reset questions used by websites to verify the identity of a user who's forgotten his password are, "What was the name of your first pet?" and, "What was the name of the street you grew up on?"</p> <p> Anyone viewing the parade of "stripper names" on Twitter would have enough information to take over at least a few online accounts. Don’t get fooled by these kinds of games into giving out your precious personal data.</p> <p> [<a href="http://social-networking-websites-review.toptenreviews.com/?cmpid=ttr-snd" target="_blank">10 Best Social Networking Websites</a>]</p>
Copyright © 2013 All Rights Reserved.