- Image
Revealing sensitive information
- Downloading something that contains malware
- Posting something that contravenes your contract of employment
- Being taken in by people pretending to be people or companies they are not in order to get you to do something - sometimes called "social engineering"
| Be really careful about what you share on social media. | Social networks are designed to share information, and if used insecurely you can reveal personal information to anyone in the world; even if you protect your posts are you sure that everyone that you share with is who they say they are? Scammers can easily gather information about you to for identify-theft attacks, or simply to force entry into your house. For example, it is unwise to describe periods of time that you leave your home unattended, or to reveal data that is commonly used to identify you: the name of your first pet, your town of birth, your mother’s maiden name etc. |
| Think before clicking. | Social media sites are prone to malware, because users are able to upload things to the website. This means that they may be able to upload malware too. Generally speaking, accessing images is OK provided they are actually an image but if you download anything executable it could contain malware. See “Phishing” for more information on the risks of downloads and attachments. |
| Do not post defamatory information. | Do not post any comments which could be interpreted as cyber-bullying, or as any kind of attack on anyone. It is very unwise to publish statements that bring the University into disrepute. Do not post defamatory information about your employer or your manager, (or anyone). For staff, the University has a social media policy. For students, the Code of Student Conduct applies. |
| Do check your privacy settings and app permissions. | Many social media sites offer privacy checkups or overviews which can allow you to regularly see whether your settings are what you think they are. Remember to check the permissions of whatever apps you are using on your devices and set them appropriately. Logging in to other sites using a single social media account can be convenient but can also decrease privacy as both the site you use and social media site have information about your usage. Check for options to opt out of tracking. |
| Be wary of unprompted contact from strangers and be careful who you trust. | Social engineering is using social standards against you, and those who do it are good at pretending to be a figure of authority, a friend or even just somebody in need, making you trust them and finally get what they want from you. Be wary, especially if something is trying to make you act quickly without thinking. |