{"id":73496,"date":"2017-05-24T10:20:06","date_gmt":"2017-05-24T17:20:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/?p=73496"},"modified":"2025-08-14T02:27:42","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T09:27:42","slug":"protecting-privacy-social-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/protecting-privacy-social-media\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting Your Privacy on Social Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Social media sites are made for sharing, so protecting your privacy sometimes comes as an afterthought. But, the kind of information you share and whom you share it with can make a big difference between having a positive experience on social media, and putting your money and private details at risk.<\/p>\n

Sites like Facebook and Twitter, and social apps like Instagram<\/a>, have not only become a part of our everyday lives, they have also become a popular place for hackers and scammers to create fake accounts and look for victims. They use social media sites to spread dangerous links that lead to malware, or phishing<\/a> attempts. They may also impersonate people you know to request money or valuable information, or even gather your own private details to steal your identity. That’s why securing your social media accounts is so important.<\/p>\n

Here are a few tips for protecting your privacy on some of the biggest social networks.<\/p>\n

Facebook<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The social media giant has recently put more effort into helping users secure their account. Their Privacy Checkup<\/a> tool allows you to review and adjust your privacy settings to control who sees your posts, what you share, and how your profile looks to other people, among other options.<\/p>\n

Facebook occasionally prompts you to go through a Privacy Checkup, but you can do it manually at any time. Consider selecting the highest security settings, including blocking messages from strangers and restricting access to your profile so that \u201cFriends Only\u201d can see your posts and tag you.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also want to take advantage of Facebook\u2019s extra security features, such as enabling two-factor authentication. This means that the site will verify that you are trying to login to your account by taking a second measure, like sending you a text message with a code to enter when logging into your account.<\/p>\n

To adjust your settings, click on the lock icon at the top of any Facebook page and select \u201cPrivacy Checkup.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Twitter<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Twitter is a bit more open than Facebook, since it allows anyone to follow you (although you can block a follower later if you choose). You can improve your privacy by being careful about the information that you share. Keep personal information out of your profile and consider selecting the \u201cProtect My Tweets\u201d option, which allows you to filter who sees your tweets, rather than having them all go public.
\nOnce again, make sure that no one else takes over your account by enabling two-factor authentication. You can also request verification whenever a password reset is attempted.<\/p>\n

These settings and more can be found by clicking on the gear icon in Twitter’s upper right-hand corner.<\/em><\/p>\n

LinkedIn<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Since this is a professional networking site, people are generally more cautious about posting information about their private lives, but it\u2019s still worth taking some time to make sure that your profile is secure. By default, anyone can see your education, photo, work experience and other details. You will want to change the settings to make sure that your profile is only visible to people you accept into your network. You can also restrict access to \u201cconnections only\u201d when it comes to viewing your activity feed.<\/p>\n

The site has been integrated with Twitter and other authorized applications, so you will want to ensure that your privacy isn’t being leaked onto other platforms without your knowledge. Only allow access to applications that you trust and use.<\/p>\n

You can manage these settings by clicking on the \u201cme\u201d icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage, and then selecting \u201cPrivacy & Settings.\u201d<\/em>
\nNo matter which social networking sites you use it’s important to find a balance between sharing and engaging with others and making sure that your privacy is protected.<\/p>\n

Here are some tips to help protect you on all social networks:<\/strong><\/h2>\n