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Protect Your Company with This Social Media Security Advice

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with IDTheftSecurity.com Inc

Social media is an excellent tool for small businesses, yet, the use of social media by small business staff can definitely put the company in danger. Many small business owners and managers don’t realize this.

Recently, I was talking to employees of a credit union about what to do in a robbery. Before this presentation, police officers had staged a robbery in the same credit union. The fake robbery was so real, some of the tellers were brought to tears, thinking they were really getting robbed.

After they were filled in on what was happening, everyone on the team discussed it. One of the most telling moments is when one of the tellers shared her story. During the mock robbery, one of the “robbers” handed a teller a note. It said this: “Your husband works at Pine Street Motors. We kidnapped him this morning. He is being held at another location. If you hit the alarm and notify police, he’s going to be killed.”

How did the bad guys know that her husband worked at Pine Street Motors? They simply looked online. They found the name of the bank, and then found out that the teller was listed as working at the bank on social media. Her social media account was connected to her husband’s, and his account said that he worked at Pine Street Motors.

Yes, it was that easy.

Here are some tips for social media that you might want to share with your staff:

Don’t Tell the Internet Where You Work

Tell employees that it’s not a good idea to share too many details about their work on social media pages. Though you can’t stop them from adding their employer on Facebook, you can tell them how this information can be used against them and the company. Make sure that they understand that this information could backfire and harm everyone involved.

Teach Your Staff How to Use Privacy Settings

You should also teach staff how to manage their social media privacy settings. Ideally, they should have maximum protection on every account. The default settings are lacking, and those put them at risk for hacking. You should also tell them that even the highest settings that social media sites have won’t keep everyone out. However, this level of protection is better than nothing.

Create a Workplace Policy for Social Media Use

Set up a policy in your workplace for social media use. Make sure this policy covers what employees associated with your company can say and what is totally prohibited.

Stop Banning the Use of Social Media in the Office

The moment you ban the use of social media at work, that’s the moment that someone will sneak around and do it anyway. This, of course, leads to dangerous things, as they can try getting around the firewall and other things that make your network vulnerable.

Train Your IT Team

Finally, make sure that your IT team is up to date on the latest ways to combat online-security issues. These teams must also know about the security risks that your business faces due to social media.

Additionally, the policy for employee social media use should be examined and updated quite regularly, and make sure to enforce it, too. Invest in anti-virus protection and make sure that all operating systems and browsers are always kept up to date when updates become available.

Robert Siciliano personal security and identity theft expert and speaker is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen. See him knock’em dead in this identity theft prevention video.

Comments (18)

William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I do not put much info on the web...just to much can happen

May 01, 2018 06:45 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Robert - this is very interesting especially Linked In wich is a career advancement tool. 

May 01, 2018 07:19 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Robert- as usual technology and social media get ahead of how and if we should use something. I do think we all put way too much out there for everyone to read. 

May 01, 2018 06:02 PM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Great tip!!!

The moment you ban the use of social media at work, that’s the moment that someone will sneak around and do it anyway. This, of course, leads to dangerous things, as they can try getting around the firewall and other things that make your network vulnerable.

May 02, 2018 04:39 AM
Lesley Wilson-VanGoethem
Innovative Realty Solutions Group - Winter Springs, FL
Residential Real Estate Broker Associate

As Realtors, getting your info out there is key, however eveyone should use caution with the how much they share, especially when it comes to being away from home, whether showing houses or vacations,,
Do so AFTER you return home!

May 02, 2018 05:05 AM
Diana Dahlberg

You are so right about that Lesley Wilson-VanGoethem ... Good Point!

May 03, 2018 10:44 AM
James Grant
Asheville, NC

This is one of the amazing tips Robert, We must apply it but some of social media site ask our information too. It is good to learn on how to minimize posting your important information on social media for security purposes. 

May 02, 2018 07:56 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

There are so many security issues associated with social media use so it's important to stay on top of it!  Thanks for the tips here.

May 02, 2018 02:14 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening Robert Siciliano ,

I'm so glad to see your post featured..you really spelled it out for us on social media and security issues. Thank you for a very informative post.

May 02, 2018 05:37 PM
Fred Sweezer Sr. CMI, LLC.
Hud Certified 203K Consultant - Long Beach, CA
HUD 203k Consultant

That is a very good business security precaution, thanks for the post! 

May 03, 2018 02:38 AM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

As Realtors® it is not easy to sort out what to do and what not to do.

We want lots of people to find us yet it is not safe to be found.

Much to ponder.

May 03, 2018 04:27 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

It amazes me that paid employees would even consider going to their social media sites while at work.

I wonder how many millions are paid each year to people who play on Facebook, shop, play computer games, etc. while they're supposed to be working?

May 03, 2018 09:26 AM
Lesley Wilson-VanGoethem

they say one of the highest log ins on FB is 12:30-2:00 PM,


am guessing most are NOT at lunch and off the clock


 

May 04, 2018 05:20 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Great Information.  As Realtors we are out there all the time, and encouraged to do so.  We just have to be smarter and think before we post.  I agree with Lesley Wilson-VanGoethem ... Do so AFTER you get home.

May 03, 2018 10:47 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I know a person, not saying who, who had once slipped a dial-up modem under her desk so she could browse on company time without being tracked. People will do a lot of things to stay connected on the job.

May 03, 2018 11:53 AM
Corey Martin
Martin Presence Group - Ruston, LA
Real Estate and Management Solutions

Great tips. I agree with all of your points. We have to control our internet presence diligently. Thank you for sharing. 

May 03, 2018 04:31 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

This morning I heard about the Twitter leak. We have to stay vigilant!

May 04, 2018 07:11 AM
Bruce Kunz
C21 Solid Gold Realty, Brick, NJ, 732-920-2100 - Howell, NJ
REALTOR®, Brick & Howell NJ Homes for Sale

Thanks for sharing this Robert Siciliano. It is so easy to put 'too much out there' and this is a great reminder of how it can bite back as well as some great precautions to be taken. Your example of how several things can be combined to create a larger problem is an excellent lesson.
Bruce

 

May 04, 2018 08:25 AM
Greg Mona
West USA Realty - Scottsdale, AZ
Professional Real Estate Representation for YOU!

Excellent and informative post, Robert Siciliano. Jeez, the things we have to think about and guard against these days! All of the technology we have at our fingertips can be/is is a wonderful thing, but I still believe we have a tiger by the tail with much of it.  

May 04, 2018 02:20 PM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Robert,

Excellent ideas. You still need common sense, when using social media.

Jul 28, 2018 01:41 PM