The Darker Side of Social Networking

Recent media attention has focused on the problems with social networking. Social networks allow the user to publish large amounts of personal information. These details include full name, birth date, address and information like maiden names.

Opportunists can use this type of information to steal your identity. It is best to set all of your preferences so that only your chosen 'friends' can access your information.

To prevent identity theft, many people use nicknames and are careful not to put their main identifying information such as birth date and address online. Remember that it is possible to do 'reverse look-up' of your phone number, so posting your phone number could also act to give opportunists access to your details.

Click here for some dos and don'ts of using a social networking site like Facebook.

Click here for an eye opening video of Facebook information.

Canadian Government information on Identity Theft.

Click here for information from the American FBI on keeping your information and computer safe.



Be careful with your information...

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