Showing posts with label social networks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social networks. Show all posts
August 29, 2012
Wymoo® Advises Caution with Social Networking












Social networking and social networking sites are the latest craze, and people around the world are now connecting, meeting and sharing information like mad.  Facebook is by far the most popular social site of all, where an estimated 800 million or more people of all ages and ethnicities show their profile to millions of others around the world. Social networks have become a great source for information gathering for many.  Employers, law enforcement, private investigators and even criminals now actively use the information found online and on social networks. 

Law enforcement across the U.S. and Europe have reported many cases where the criminal first studied his victim online, before committing the real world crime.  Thanks to all your sharing on social networking sites, criminals can often determine your address, date of birth, where you work and where you went to school, and obtain photos of you and your family, all without ever meeting you.  Then, the criminal can view your house and even what kind of car you drive by using Google Maps.  If you post when you’re away for the weekend or on vacation, it doesn’t take long to see the risk. Private investigators have seen cases of robbery; identity theft, harassment, rape and even murder originate from information first found on a social networking site. 

Careful What You Share 

Privacy is important, and should be treated as such.  Never post your date of birth or address on social networking sites such as Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, etc.  Remember what you share with your followers or friends, could end up in the wrong hands.  As a rule, know that what you post on the internet, may be visible by the world and hard to get off the internet once it is published.  Never post when you are away from home for strangers and potential criminals to see. 

Be Skeptical of New “Friends” 

Many internet criminals and scammers are using social networking sites as a hunting ground to find their victims.  Scammers often will send you a friend request or want to connect with you.  Their profiles often look harmless, or even exactly what you’re looking for.  They may seem friendly and show no signs of any red flags.  Their goal is to gain your trust, and slowly extract information from you.  Once they have sufficient information on you, they can steal your identity, or even install a virus on your computer via an email attachment to steal your passwords.

Be skeptical of all relationships formed online.  If you believe the person is honest and real, consider a phone conversation before meeting in person, if you plan to do so.  If you meet in person, be sure to meet in a public place.  If the relationship is only online, restrict the communication to your social networking site, and don’t use your personal email. 

Who’s Reading Your Profile? 

Privacy is being threatened every day.  Governments want more control over their citizens, and big brother is watching.  Certain words may trigger a red flag with government agencies to begin to monitor your accounts and activity for “security concerns”.  Or, your employer, without your consent, may begin to include social network monitoring to ensure their employees aren’t engaged in any unethical or “inappropriate” behavior outside the workplace.  Fight for your privacy and take advantage of any privacy settings available on social networking sites.  Set your privacy settings to friends only, and refuse your employer and other companies access.

If you have over 500 contacts or “friends”, you may consider reviewing your contacts, and ask yourself if you trust all those individuals or companies who you’re sharing with. 

Avoid Dating Scams

Online dating and romance scams are no longer exclusively for online dating sites.  Many new romances (and scams) are now started on social networking sites like Facebook.  Watch out for red flags such as requests for money, traveling overseas, situations that seem too good to be true, etc.  If you think the relationship has potential and may be worth pursing, be safe and contact a reputable investigation firm for a discreet dating background check investigation.  

All the best,

S. Birch
© 2012 S. Birch

Read more
February 9, 2012
International Investigators Explain How Social Networks Violate Your Privacy



Governments of the world underestimate the power that internet and few though the internet would reach such a powerful source of information and dissemination of content over the years. Social networks have played a fundamental role in the way news spreads. Politician these days are realizing that the power of the internet and social networks is real, and hard to keep quiet.  They too must join the online propaganda machine.  Social network users publish news instantly, and the world views their comments.  This has major repercussions for a political campaign, natural disasters and other events.  But, social network sites like Facebook might be using your information in ways that you’re not aware of.  It’s not your private space, after all, it’s a business.

Last week we had a sample on how easy it is for the masses to be impacted by privacy policies of Google and Facebook, where there are over 1 billion users who have little choice or say how their private information is being used.  Big Brother is watching, and your private information that you publish, and how you surf the internet is being monitored.  You are being sold down the river.  With privacy gone, and by watching your every step, Facebook can make money from you. 

Most users are simply unaware of how their private information is being monitored, used and sold by social networking sites and search engines like Facebook and Google.  They hope that users don’t have time or understand the specifics of their privacy policies.  Facebook and Google are now worth over 1 billion dollars each.  Do you know why?  Because they are selling your data.

Facebook and Google selfishly violate your privacy right by sharing your data to sponsors and advertisers monetizing the companies involved. Social networks jeopardize the physical and moral autonomy of their users every day.  While you think you may just be posting some information to your friends or family, social networks are watching and selling the information to companies who might want to sell their products to you.  Worse, criminals watch what you post and hope you post private information such as your address, date of birth, and when you are taking a vacation.

International investigators say that your posts and information is valuable information to such companies who are finding new ways to profit from you daily.  Posting your information online, anywhere, and specifically on social networking sites such as Facebook, and directly or indirectly lead to identity theft and other crimes.  At the very least, you will see an increase in spam and other junk mail at your home.  Your name and number and email are being sold in exchange for your “sharing” online with your “friends”.  Experts say be carefully about what you post.  Never share personal information online that could be used by criminals.  Remember that no website is 100% safe and private.  If you want to tell your friends something person, use your email.

Personal information is anything that can identify a person: name, address, date of birth, marital status, contact information, financial records, medical history, where you go, travel, intention to acquire goods, which services you like. Facebook and criminals actively use your information to profit from you.  The more “friends” you have, the more at risk you are.  Like that?
 
All the best,

S. Birch
© 2012 S. Birch
Read more
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)