Protect Your Private Information on Facebook

ID thieves could use Facebook to retrieve data.[1] Some advocate being extremely secure and private, and sharing as little as possible, but if you want to network, that defeats the purpose. Basic measures (accessible in preferences) that won't hurt your openness ability means hiding some information that people don't need.

Steps

  1. Log in to Facebook, then click Account. It is located on the top right (next to Profile). Click Privacy Settings.
  2. Decide how private you want your profile to be. Click on each tab—everyone, friends of friends, friends only, recommended, and custom. Look at the dots for each one—the dot shows who can see that aspect.
    • If you are happy with one of the preset privacy settings, click Apply These Settings in the bottom right corner. If you are not, continue reading to learn how to customize your privacy settings.
  3. Uncheck the "Let friends of people tagged in my photos and posts see them" box. This ensures that only your friends are able to see posts and photos that you tag.
  4. Click the Customize Settings link under the box you just unchecked. This will allow you to further edit your Facebook settings.
  5. Decide how private you want certain things to be by selecting from the drop-down menu.
  6. Hide certain people or networks from seeing your information. To do so, click Customize from the drop down menu. Then, choose "Friends Only," uncheck any networks you don't want to see your photos (remember that when this is checked it means that anyone in the network can see that piece of information, not just your friends in the network), and type in the names of any person on your friends list you don't want to see your info.
  7. Make a certain piece of information visible to only a couple people. To do so, click Customize from the drop down menu. From the next drop down menu, choose Specific People...Then, type in the name of the people you want to be able to see the info. As long as your networks are unchecked, only those to whom you grant permission will be able to see that piece of information.
  8. Change your photo privacy settings. Click on Edit Privacy Settings for existing photo albums and videos at the bottom of the Things I Share section.
    • Choose the appropriate settings for each album. Use the drop down menu as you did for the previous steps. Click the Back to Settings button in the upper left corner when you are done.
  9. Preview your profile. This feature allows you to view your own profile as if you were someone else. It will help you make sure that they can only see what you want them to. To do so, click Preview My Profile in the upper right corner.
    • Type in the name of the person's view you want to check and press enter.
  10. Click Back to Privacy Settings to make any necessary changes. Then enjoy your newly secure Facebook profile!

Tips

  • Always check you are using the correct web address before entering a username or password.

Warnings

  • Do not post any derogatory information,gossip and untrue information about anyone on facebook, whether it's on the wall, comments, email, chat etc, even if that person/people is the biggest pain of all. Remember your boss, teacher, parents anyone can access and see what you put on and pass on the info to others and to the very person - and it could land you in BIG AND SERIOUS TROUBLE. The only way to keep out of trouble is to NOT PUT IT ON AT ALL!
  • Do NOT post crazy drunk pictures of you and your friends on facebook if you have your parents or anyone else that you don't want to see those pictures on facebook. You can restrict them from seeing select albums, too.
  • When you add an application, you are trusting the developer of the application with your data. The best solution (apart from not adding any applications at all, or not being on Facebook) is to not put any sensitive information on Facebook, including correct birthdays and other personal data that could be used in identity theft.
  • Do not give out your personal information to anyone, even your friends and people you know without permission from your parents/guardians/teacher/carers first. Personal information includes:
    • Your telephone and mobile numbers.
    • Your home address - If anyone asks where you live or you want to say where you live just give the town or region.
    • The name of your school/workplace/college/university and that goes for your parents, friends and family members ones too.
    • Names of your parents and family members.
    • Any bank and financial information e.g. credit card number etc.
    • Car registration number, National insurance number.
    • Private medical information and medical history (especially intimate information) about you, your family and friends. Telling someone that you suffer from a migraine, had a cold, flu and non intimate operations such as hand surgery is fine. It's fine to tell someone you went to the doctors, if they ask why, just give an honest but concise answer e.g. I went for an injection, had some tests, check-up, but you don't need to tell the whole details. If you have a disability or medical condition, be careful of who you tell, sometimes it is best to just tell family and close friends only.

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2007/08/facebook.html
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