Today there is a high focus on online security because it is so essential to every user's wellbeing. Yet most of the focus remains on the cautious use of websites, credit card charges, and entering personal information on any given website. At the same time, social networks continuously make changes in their policy to allow high visibility of things like your phone number, your address, and your email address.
Online security is about being safe and secure on every single website. Just because a website is well used, has a lot of press, or seems to be a beneficial marketing tool doesn't mean that it's completely secure. Often the settings that you choose to protect your identity and your personal contact information are automatically changed or reset with every policy change.
That means that you suddenly start finding that there are email messages showing up that you believe to be spam. There are suddenly phone calls coming into your cell phone that you had never intended. It's not just disruptive, it can become downright dangerous. The idea that you're anonymous while online is just not the case. People who want to market to you, whom you used to date, or those who have been highly problematic in your life can track you down and use this information to their gain and your detriment. There is a reason that you wanted to be anonymous in the first place.
If you have ever used a credit card on a social networking site, usually for the purposes of playing games, the changes in policy that happen without your knowledge or understanding can leave this information vulnerable as well. It's important to stay on top of the changes. Make it a habit to check in with your security settings whenever you log onto a social networking site to ensure that all of your information is well protected and that you aren't accidentally putting yourself at risk for breaches.
Users are rallying to have these policy changes stopped. It may take a long time before social network sites are willing to comply. Their main reason for doing it is to allow the high paying advertisers the access to personal information for their marketing efforts.
If you aren't very savvy when it comes to online security you're certainly not the only one. It's recommended that you find a friend or family member that can walk you through it so that you know how to check on your security settings and what to do if you find that your information is being exposed to those you don't want accessing it.
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