Are you concerned about your online privacy and keeping your business safe online? Online privacy and security have become a major focus for business online activity today. What you do right now matters whether you live in Halifax, Dartmouth, Truro or elsewhere. You are not bullet proof.
Cover Credit: PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION BY JOE ZEFF DESIGN FOR TIME
Time magazine came out in May 31, 2010 featuring on its front cover Facebook; and how they are redefining our privacy. Since then, we have seen numerous social media networks hacked and user information stolen or displayed online.
I have always believed that if you are going to put anything online, you should consider that it might go public at any time. With this in mind, I told my two daughters that once you post a picture or a comment on the Internet, it’s on there for good. They could delete it, but Google could have indexed it already or a friend could have shared it. What we do online can be there for life.
It only takes seconds to be stupid, but a lifetime to regret something that should have not been put on the Internet.
Whenever I post something on the web, I always ask myself this question, “Would I mind if everyone in the world saw this?” Would you like to have something bad floating around on the Internet that you put up? You always have to think before you post.
The question remains, “Should we care about our privacy anymore?” Or “Should we even care what we post online?” I believe the answer is “Yes” to both questions.
As a business, I spend a lot of time on the Internet for business, and I want people to find my business information. But that’s not the same story for my two daughters. Since they are both on Facebook and they love to photograph themselves, we have changed their Facebook privacy sharing setting to “Friends Only”. There are bad people out there on the Internet who look for pictures of teens.
The problem with Facebook’s “Friends of Friends” privacy sharing setting is that if someone is a friend of my friend, they can view my daughter’s pictures and comments. I want only their “invited” friends to see them. And yes, you should check who they are friends with from time to time. Remember it’s your computer, you pay the bills. Remember what you were like when you were a teenager? I don’t think I need to say anymore.
So take a look at what you are using and check the Facebook privacy settings. Make sure you understand what each level of privacy means and that you are comfortable with that level.
Look at each social network that you are using and see how your information is being shared. Don’t just assume that the social network or application developer is looking after you. Many social networks and applications start with settings that are wide open – PUBLIC. So please check them to see what they are set at.
As a business, my settings are wide open for most social networks. As a result, I am careful what I share on them. But there are a few things that I lock down from public eyes. On Facebook, for example, I don’t show my birthday, my political or my religious status, or who I am friends with. When people learn about your birth date, it can result in identity theft.
The things I keep wide open are my contact points, such as my business phone number, my business email address, my business web site addresses and other information that could bring me business.
I have, because of recent fraud scams, hidden my friends list on Facebook to myself only. The sole purpose of doing this was to protect all my friends from potentially being scammed by others attempting to be me.
I am also careful about information shared as to my location. You might even see a post from me like this…“I’m in Halifax. I just finished filing my pit bull’s teeth and forgot to feed him. Hope nobody tries to get inside the house”. As funny as that sounds, we must always remember that there are people online watching us. Women need to be especially careful with what they share about their location.
In summary, don’t just assume that your social network is looking after your privacy. Your personal privacy is your business and you need to monitor what is happening with it.
Every now and then you should “Google” yourself and your business name to see what is showing up in search. You may be surprised by what you see. Remember; don’t put stuff on the Internet that you don’t want the whole world to see. And before you hit the send button, think. Check spelling and content. And ask yourself…”Is this really what I want to say or reveal to others?” It’s your privacy, be smart about it.
So have a great day in business. I am cheering you on 😀
