FSAfety News

Don't post your personal information online. Anything that can help identify you can be put together with other information to build a profile. Many Facebook users put more than enough personal information -- name, date of birth, address, phone number, or school -- to enable thieves to fill out credit card applications in the victim’s name.

Avoid disclosing any of your personal numbers. This includes your social security number, driver's license number, debit or credit card, phone card, insurance card, library card, or medical ID card number.

Watch out for email or social networking quizzes. Through personality quizzes, for example, strangers can profile you -- your religion, political affiliation, likes and dislikes, “wall” posts – offer information that could be used against you.

Don't be specific about where you are or where you are going. In addition to ID thieves, naming your school, sports team, clubs, or where you work could leave a trail for a stalker. Not all Internet threats are financial or impersonal.

Set your Facebook or other site’s profile to "private." Control who can view your content, and only add people you know to your Friends list. A friend of a friend might not be someone you want to know.

Consider using a separate email address just for social networking. Never use your primary, "trusted," email (the one you use to communicate directly with your friends, coworkers and classmates). Remember that stalkers can be electronic as well as physical threats.

Be very selective about what you post on your page or say in open chat-rooms. Is it a photo or a message you wouldn’t want your parents to see? Remember, your Internet activity has been likened to a “digital tattoo.” Once you post something, it cannot be taken back. Postings on most Web sites are copied and cached around the Internet, so nothing truly “disappears.”