The internet has so much good and evil that one can’t help but wonder at times. With the internet providing endless information for the discerning mind, it is sometimes difficult to admit the negative parts.
However, the bad parts have being brought to the fore with the recent robbery of Kim Kardashian and the sex video scandal of Miss Anambra, one can’t help but wonder if there is a specific way to act over the internet to avoid controversies.
Even though you may not have as much fame as Kim Kardashian or the Miss Anambra, you are nonetheless exposed to cyber crime and a host of other negativity especially every time you post something on your social media pages.
If you’re willing to keep yourself and your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram followers safe, here are a number of things you should do right.
1. Never Release Your Location
One of the biggest mistake people make over the internet is allowing people they barely know have access to information regarding their location.
Whenever you post a photo on any of the social media sites, it is secretly tagged with metadata— which are bits of information that include the time and location at which the picture was taken.
The solution to this problem is as simple as erasing the metadata. This can be done by turning off or unchecking the “Add Location” option on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. If you’re looking for extra security, there are a number of apps that are available that you can run your pictures through to scrub off any metadata.
Applications like Metapho (which is free for iOS) can help to potentially wipe off any metadata or information tidbit that may exist on your pictures.
2. Be Sceptical Of Public WIFI
Public WiFi are a good way of exposing yourself to problems over the internet. Everyone single time you connect through a public WiFi network, you better hope the network is secure as you’d most likely be relaying sensitive information over a public digital environment.
A lot of present day cyber-criminals set up fake networks which appear legitimate and wait for you to relay sensitive information through them. They then go on to steal your data. Cyber-criminals may however also hack into an already secure public network such as the one in a University environment or hotel to perpetrate criminal activities.
You can avoid these problems by making use of a virtual private network or VPN, when you’re making use of a public WiFi with your smartphone or laptop. A lot of present day mobile devices have operating systems already come with a VPN client.
The VPN serves as a small security fortress that serves to protect you within an open public Internet space. If you make use of a VPN to log onto an open WIFI network, it will be a bit difficult for anyone to have access or tamper with your data. Furthermore, you can also choose to make use of your phone data instead of logging onto a WiFi. Phone data are much more secure than wireless data and it reduces your risk of exposure.
3. Never Over Share
It is very easy to get tempted to share much more than you should in this time an age. The more angry tweets you share on issues you’re passionate about, political diatribes and selfies, the more likely you are to expose yourself to criminals. More so, sharing too much can have a huge impact on your future when it comes to job hunting or even political aspirations.
Employers are constantly looking for reasons not to hire people due to nepotism and sentiments and if you appear to be the type that is always ranting and complaining on the internet, you just may not be hired as you’d be seen as someone who lacks the ability to interact with others in a courteous and professional manner.
More so, the more information you put online, the more information cybercriminals have access to about you. Taking a selfie of yourself at a gym and publishing your location for instance tells criminals where and when you’d be at a particular location. All you need to do is keep your private thoughts, especially your current location as private as possible.
The good thing is that a lot of apps come with privacy controls and you can determine the people that can have access to any of your information. Make good use of them to stay as safe as possible.
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