Acorn Newsbot
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Twitter has previously been criticised for the amount of suspicious accounts active on the social network. They are simply operating to ‘phish’ for online data and introduce malicious spyware into your computer. You need to stay savvy to avoid falling victim.
Not only is a potential hack into your Twitter account damaging in terms of your personal data – it has also led to some embarrassing PR for high profile individuals seemingly posting offensive and dangerous opinions on the network when in fact it’s a hack attack.
Use a really strong password
It sounds like Twitter for toddlers, but you will be surprised how many people have their username followed by 123 or 888 as a password. This is a really poor choice. As with passwords on any site, choose something unique, difficult to guess, and at least 8 characters long with a mixture of numbers and letters. How strong is your password?
Beware Direct Messages
A direct message from a new follower with an unbelievable offer just needing some personal financial details and information? Some scammers must think people are born yesterday – avoid!
Unsavoury followers
Their favourite activities will be, shall we say, of a more intimate nature and they will look like they reside in the Playboy Mansion. Such users are not there to forge meaningful bonds over Twitter – engage with them at your peril.
It’s an instant news site – use it as such
Twitter was never really designed to be a tool where you shared personal details with the world and his wife. It’s a great way to stay instantly connected to global news and follow people in the public eye who you like, but why feel the need to tell everyone your personal goings on every five minutes? The more you share the more personal data you place into the public domain.
You’re sharing what?
Anyone who has messaged any bank details or any sensitive information through Twitter needs their head examining. Those 140 characters do not stand for sort code, account number and security code – bank details are personal for a reason and identity theft is no laughing matter.
Invest in antivirus software
It’s not that expensive – and what price do you put on online safety? Antivirus software will bring up a big screen if you follow any suspicious links along the lines of ‘Whoa are you sure you want to go there?’ Once that appears you have been warned, as they say.
Are you really logging into Twitter?
Check the URL before you login – it might surprise you to know that scam artists have even set up fake Twitter login pages in a bid to steal your personal information.
Get the facts
People are so much more informed than a couple of years ago and Twitter has its own safety centre which shows you best practice for staying safe on the social network. With policy guidelines and how to report a violation it’s important to know where to go should you be unlucky.
In many ways common sense prevails when it comes to keeping your data safe on Twitter. Remember if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is!
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