#makeITsafePH : Are we SAFE in Social Networking Sites?

In this day and age, online social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr etc. play an important role in our society, which is heavily influenced by the Information Technology (IT). People tend to use these platforms because they are user-friendly and they are free! As a result, the world has become more public and less private.

PROS AND CONS IN SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES

Nowadays, millions of internet users regularly visit thousands of social websites to keep linking with their friends, share their thoughts, photos, videos and discuss even about their daily-life.

Unfortunately, this created an opportunity to cybercriminals to hack into people’s social network accounts or put a number of malicious programs that target the social web sites which fraudulently acquire sensitive information from victims like their personal security data.

Worst case scenario, there are terrorist groups and sexual predators that create online communities for spreading their thoughts, propaganda, views and conducting recruitment.

SPAMMERS VS HACKERS

These two may be similar in nature but they differ in motives and people going online should be aware of these two cyber threats to prevent themselves from becoming vulnerable online.

SPAMMERS

Spammers want you to look at them and click on their stuff. Spammers send or post unsolicited messages online. Email is probably the most obvious method spammers use, but spamming can be seen in blog comments, texts/SMS, online forums, and social media platforms.

Comment spamming is simply done by posting unrelated comments to blog or social media posts; however they are not breaking into your website. It is their way of advertising their site once you click the link in their comment, thereby driving more traffic to their spammy sites.

Just simply ignore and delete these messages.

HACKERS

Hackers want to steal or destroy something. In the computer security world, hacking means gaining unauthorized access to a computer/system/network. Basically, hackers “crack” the code to access areas of the system where they are not supposed to go in. Once they get into the system, they insert links on web pages, insert web pages, make the system vulnerable, and use the system to publicize a political message, or drop a malware on your site to spread infection.

RISKS PREVENTION AND THREATS VULNERABILITIES

Image result for thumbs up Always have very strong passwords on your emails and other social web sites

Image result for thumbs up Limit the provided personal information in the social web sites as much as you can

Image result for thumbs up Change your passwords regularly, so that your information can be out of reach by hackers

Image result for thumbs up Be skeptical! Don’t trust online others and don’t answer on special questions from unknown users or companies

Image result for thumbs up Check privacy policies and be aware of unknown emails and links provides by unknown users

Image result for thumbs up To prevent detecting emails address by spammer techniques, write the email: xyz@gmail.com as xyz at gmail dot com

 

Hootsuite, a US-based social media management platform, has released its “Digital in 2018” report of social media and digital trends around the world.  The report revealed that the Philippines now has 67 million Internet users, with all of them active on social media.  This widespread use of the internet gives rise to the emergence of internet-related crimes such as rape, theft,  bullying and piracy which made the public, especially the youth, very vulnerable.

Because of this, Globe Telecom, being a purveyor of digital lifestyle, came out with the #makeITsafePH cybersecurity and cyberwellness campaign to educate consumers about online threats and what they can do to avoid becoming a victim.  The campaign also teaches the public proper online etiquette so that they would not become a source of such deplorable behavior.

#lifeisbeyeeutiful is in one with Globe’s #makeITsafePH campaign and stresses on educating ourselves and be more responsible in using these social networks. If we don’t, someone else is educating himself on how to hack our account.

So the next time you browse in your social media platforms, be careful before you click because that next request may not be so “friendly,” at all.

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